| tart --> | | | | then you have pain due to the Piriformis muscle |
| If you're reading this article, it's a good bet that | | | | putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. |
| you have a radiating pain running down the back | | | | In most cases, people go to physical therapy or |
| of your leg that just won't go away. If what I'm | | | | minimize their physical activity to break the pain - |
| about to tell you sounds familiar, don't worry, help | | | | spasm cycle and in most cases your symptoms |
| is on the way. | | | | subside. However...the event will also set you up |
| Sciatica and Piriformis Syndrome are the same | | | | for a life time of sciatic pain if the Piriformis |
| condition... it is just that the medical community is | | | | muscle does not recover 100% in both strength |
| starting to call the condition by the muscle | | | | and flexibility. |
| (Piriformis) that is involved and getting away from | | | | When you have an injury to a muscle, both |
| calling it by the name of the nerve that is | | | | strength and flexibility are compromised, and if |
| involved (sciatic) nothing more than semantics. | | | | your recovery ends before strength and flexibility |
| Did you go see your primary care physician and | | | | return, you will never be 100% and will likely |
| get diagnosis of Sciatica only to have them refer | | | | struggle with the problem forever. |
| you to an orthopedic specialist and than get a | | | | The other way sciatic pain creeps into your life is |
| diagnosis of Piriformis Syndrome... and than be told | | | | due to your lifestyle and habits, and that is what |
| to see a Physical Therapist and the PT tells you a | | | | we like to call the process. The process can be |
| little heat, ultra sound, electrical stimulation and | | | | described as a prolonged onset of symptoms |
| some therapeutic exercises and we will have you | | | | based on your everyday activities... |
| good as new??? | | | | However, from a technical stand point the |
| If this is the path you have been down and you're | | | | process really describes the development of the |
| tired of all the worthless treatments that just | | | | muscle imbalance in your hip. The Piriformis muscle |
| don't work, you must read this article! I guarantee | | | | is responsible for external rotation (moving your |
| you, it will likely be far different than what you | | | | leg so your feet point outward). So over time |
| have read or heard anywhere else! | | | | that muscle gets tight from the positions you put |
| First, let me tell you why today's traditional | | | | your self in and weakens from lack of use. |
| treatment methods just flat out miss the boat. | | | | Let me give you some examples of what I mean: |
| The medical community is so conditioned and | | | | 1. If you sit on the edge of your chair with you |
| focused on treating only the symptoms and | | | | legs separated and your feet pointing outward |
| trying to get in as many patients a day as | | | | you are keeping your Piriformis muscle in a |
| possible, that many people are misdiagnosed and | | | | shortened position and that's how it gets tight and |
| or mistreated. | | | | with extended sitting in that position, it gets weak |
| Sciatic pain is simply caused by pressure being | | | | form lack of use. Hence the imbalance. |
| placed on the sciatic nerve and there are primarily | | | | 2. Another example is runners and bikers who |
| four things that can create this... you may have | | | | actually work very hard tend to get sciatica |
| one or more of the following: | | | | because they fail to keep a strength vs. stretch |
| 1. Pressure caused by shortening and tightening of | | | | balance in their workouts. Hence the imbalance |
| the piriformis muscle. This is almost always due to | | | | creates a greater pull toward external rotation |
| months or years of muscle imbalances in the hip | | | | and the result is a tight Piriformis and an irritated |
| rotator muscles. | | | | sciatic nerve creating pain. |
| 2. Pressure caused by spinal stenosis, which is a | | | | These are just two examples of how muscle |
| decrease in the space between the vertebrae. | | | | imbalances can affect the Piriformis muscle and |
| This is primarily caused by uneven pressure and | | | | cause Sciatic pain. You may not be a runner or |
| compression due to muscle imbalances. | | | | cyclist but I'll bet you have muscle imbalances that |
| 3. Pressure caused by Isthmic spondylolisthesis | | | | are causing your sciatic pain! |
| which is simply when a vertebrae slips or moves... | | | | To learn more about muscle imbalances and how |
| this can sometimes pinch the sciatic nerve but | | | | they affect your body, please read our article |
| often times people who have this condition don't | | | | "Aches, Pains, and Injuries" which you can find on |
| have any pain, symptoms, or even know they | | | | our website here: |
| have it! | | | | Recovery Tip: In severe cases, the sciatic pain |
| 4. Pressure caused by a herniated or bulging disc. | | | | can run from the top of the hip to the bottom of |
| A herniation is when a disc protrudes out from | | | | the foot. It is very important to recognize that |
| between the vertebrae and this can either be | | | | changes and shifting of pain is often times a sign |
| caused by an event like a car accident, or, by | | | | of improvement. Further more as a way of |
| months or years of uneven pressure due to | | | | gauging recovery, take note of how far down the |
| muscle imbalances. It is also important to note | | | | leg the pain goes. If the pain goes to the foot one |
| that many people with herniated discs don't even | | | | day and then only makes it to the calf and then |
| experience pain or symptoms, and many don't | | | | to the knee and then it can only make it to the |
| know they have the condition. | | | | hamstring that is a sign of improvement. You |
| As you can see, there is a trend here... in nearly | | | | should feel good about those noticeable |
| every case, muscle imbalances are the primary | | | | improvements and this should give you |
| cause of the pressure being placed on the sciatic | | | | encouragement to keep working toward a full |
| nerve. | | | | remission of pain. |
| If you are not sure which one of the four is | | | | So how do you get rid of your pain? Will learning |
| causing your sciatic pain, I recommend you start | | | | one new stretch be enough? It very well may be. |
| with the basics. Most cases of sciatic pain are | | | | However depending on the severity of your |
| caused by muscle imbalances so if you begin to | | | | condition you may need to change your activities |
| work on correcting any muscle imbalances you | | | | of daily living to include new stretches, new |
| have, you should start to see improvement right | | | | exercises that include the use of the hip rotators |
| away. | | | | like roller-blading, basketball, tennis, etc, and even |
| There are several self assessments you can | | | | better, specific corrective exercise specific to |
| perform to help identify which specific muscle | | | | your situation... like those covered in our video. As |
| imbalances you have and these are covered in | | | | always, learn as much as you can about your |
| our Lose the Back Pain Video along with | | | | condition, so that you can ask the tough questions |
| step-by-step instructions on what to do to | | | | to your healthcare providers and get the best |
| eliminate your imbalances and pain. You can learn | | | | care possible. |
| more by visiting | | | | One last point, sciaitic pain is not caused by a lack |
| Sciatic pain comes about either due to a traumatic | | | | of prescription medications so don't think that |
| event, muscle imbalances, or a combination of | | | | taking some anti-inflammatories or muscle |
| both. | | | | relaxants will fix it... it won't! Also, many people are |
| The event scenario is most likely the catalyst for | | | | able to eliminate sciatic pain within days just by |
| sudden onset of sciatic pain. So what happens... | | | | performing a few exercises and stretches... but |
| when there is undue stress on the Piriformis | | | | not general exercise... the exact corrective |
| muscle that stress causes it to go into spasm and | | | | exercises and stretches they need to do. |