5 Things to Know About the Piriformis StretchShare on Pinterest
The piriformis is a difficult to reach muscle that runs from your sacrum to your thigh bone. When it begins to push against your sciatic nerve, often due to too much sitting, it can cause excruciating pain. A tight or inflamed piriformis is what is known as piriformis syndrome.
Here are five things you should know about your piriformis, and how to keep it healthy.
1. A tight piriformis can be caused by vigorous exercise or an accidentVivian Eisenstadt is a Los Angeles-based physical therapist who specializes in pain prevention.
“Think of your body as a pulley system,” she says. “Muscles cross joints and connect bone to bone, and pull the bones in one direction. If one muscle is too tight, then it creates strain on the next joint over on both sides.”
“A tight piriformis from slouching in a chair with your hips rotated outward puts a lot of strain on your low back and makes your hips so tight that you create an imbalance in the entire system.”
Piriformis syndrome isn’t always caused by inactivity. It can occur after an accident or even after vigorous activity such as running.
The piriformis is a difficult to reach muscle that runs from your sacrum to your thigh bone. When it begins to push against your sciatic nerve, often due to too much sitting, it can cause excruciating pain. A tight or inflamed piriformis is what is known as piriformis syndrome.
Here are five things you should know about your piriformis, and how to keep it healthy.
1. A tight piriformis can be caused by vigorous exercise or an accidentVivian Eisenstadt is a Los Angeles-based physical therapist who specializes in pain prevention.
“Think of your body as a pulley system,” she says. “Muscles cross joints and connect bone to bone, and pull the bones in one direction. If one muscle is too tight, then it creates strain on the next joint over on both sides.”
“A tight piriformis from slouching in a chair with your hips rotated outward puts a lot of strain on your low back and makes your hips so tight that you create an imbalance in the entire system.”
Piriformis syndrome isn’t always caused by inactivity. It can occur after an accident or even after vigorous activity such as running.