The piriformis is a muscle located in the buttocks. You’ve probably never heard about it before, but that doesn’t make it any less important to your physiology. In fact, if you suffer from piriformis syndrome, you’ll come to realize just how important this muscle is. Tightness in this region manifests in a variety of chronic pain symptoms, including tenderness and numbness in the legs, hips, and buttocks.
The piriformis muscle isn’t one that can be easily stretched or worked out, making it hard to overcome discomfort. One of the only effective ways to treat this condition is through chiropractic care.
The Roots of Piriformis Syndrome
Strain on the piriformis muscle can have wide-ranging effects, due in part to irritation and inflammation of key nerve endings near the tailbone. The sciatic nerve, running from the hip all the way down the leg, is almost always invariably affected by piriformis tightness.
- Prolonged periods of sitting, such as working a desk job or driving too much;
- Sports injuries that are left untreated;
- Slip and fall accidents resulting in lower body injuries;
- Spontaneous spasm and injury.
A common issue plaguing the piriformis is that once it has been injured, it’s very prone to re-injury. Even if your tightness or pain subsides, it’s likely to come back again with simple re-aggravation. And it’s often worse the longer it sticks around.
Managing the Muscle and the Condition
Strengthening key muscle groups through light aerobic exercise and better nutrition is the best approach to combating problems with the piriformis. With the right conditioning habits, it’s possible to lessen the likelihood of piriformis syndrome flair-ups. In conjunction, chiropractic treatment resets vertebrae and focuses on enhancing nervous system health, specifically to the sciatic nerve and others running along the tailbone.
One place to not turn for relief is pain medications, even though they’re often prescribed by general practitioners for muscle aches. These only provide, at best, short-term relief. If you’re experiencing persistent pain in the buttocks or tailbone and think you might be suffering from piriformis syndrome. Chiropractic adjustment on spine subluxation and sacroiliac joint can help to relief the misalignment of the joint and able to relief the piriformis muscle tightness.