Deccan Chronicle, Thursday 24 June 2010

CAREFUL OF THAT BUTTOCK

What is Piriformis Syndrome?

Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle become tight or
spasms, and irritates the sciatic nerve. This cause pain in the buttocks region and may
even result in referred pain in the lower back and thigh. Patients often complain of pain
deep within the hip and buttocks and for this reason. Piriformis Syndrome has also been
referred to as “Deep Buttock” syndrome.

What causes Piriformis Syndrome?

Piriformis syndrome is cause by a shortening or tightening of the piriformis muscle, and
while many things can be attributed to this, they can all be categorized into two main
groups: overload (or training errors): and biomechanical inefficiencies.

Overload (or training errors)

Piriformis syndrome is commonly associated with sports that require a lot of running,
change of direction or weight bearing activity. However, piriformis syndrome is not only
found in athletes. In fact, a large proportion of reported cases occur in people who lead a
sedentary lifestyle. Other overload causes include:
• Exercising on hard surfaces like concrete
• Exercising on uneven ground
• Beginning an exercise programme after a long lay-off
• Increasing exercise intensity or duration too quickly
• Exercising in worn out or ill-fitting shoes
• Sitting for long periods.

(The writer is a spine care specialist at Dr Vijay’s Spine Care, Ulsoor)