Sometimes you may have a pain that shoots down your leg as well as in the hip region. You may think this pain is related to a herniated disc. Although this could be the cause, you could be experiencing Piriformis Syndrome.
The Piriformis muscle is a small pear shaped muscle that runs from your sacrum to the top of your femur or thigh bone. This muscle usually crosses over the sciatic nerve, but in some cases the muscle belly is divided and the nerve runs through the muscle. This muscle functions as an external rotator for the leg.
The problem occurs when the muscle spasms and puts pressure on the sciatic nerve causing you to think you have sciatica. This impingement of the nerve will cause increased pain to be present down your leg. Simple soft tissue stretches and modalities will help restore the Piriformis to its normal tone and alleviate this leg pain.
I’m Steve Taylor, Physical Therapist of Southern Physical and Occupational Therapy Services
Moving You To A Pain-Free Lifestyle
