Every
summer millions of us take advantage of fairer weather and longer days to get
outside more. Morning runs, weekend bike rides, and long evening strolls become
more common.
If
you’re one of the many who frequently get a deep pain in your buttocks, hip
or down your leg after you take up summer activities like these there’s a good
chance it’s coming from a little known muscle called the piriformis.
It’s
the piriformis muscle deep in the posterior side of our hips, along with a few
other lateral rotator muscles, which allow our bodies to keep from falling over
when we walk by shifting our body weight side to side as we lift our feet.
However,
many of the activities we participate in require this muscle to continually
contract. As the muscle is overworked, it becomes painfully tight while
stretching nearby muscles. Piriformis syndrome is a frequent contributor to lower back pain and one of the four primary causes of sciatica.
Following
are some articles related to lower back pain and cures which could be of
interest to you:
What activities lead to piriformis syndrome?
Perhaps
the most common activity leading to piriformis syndrome wouldn’t really be
called an “activity” at all by most of us: sitting. But just holding your body
erect in a seat with your hips flexed (knees bent, feet on the floor) requires
your piriformis muscle to contract to help maintain that position. And sitting
on a wallet can quickly make matters even worse.
Yes,
many of us sit all day long throughout the year. So why the big deal about
summer activities causing piriformis syndrome?
Many
of our summer activities like running, bicycling, hiking, and rowing all work
the piriformis muscle as we repeatedly bend our legs. In fact, they repeatedly
work the same muscles over and over.
Unless
we take care to properly stretch and strengthen other muscles by lateral
(sideways) movements of our legs we soon create a muscle imbalance where the piriformis muscle becomes short and tight.
This
is what leads to both deep muscle aches and referred nerve pain from
strangulation of the sciatic nerve where it passes near or through the
piriformis muscle.
Even
if your pain isn’t constant yet, if you’re experiencing pain in your lower
back, buttocks, or down the back of your legs it’s worth considering piriformis
syndrome as a possible cause.
Here’s
a couple quick ways to determine if your piriformis muscle is overly tight:
take a quick look down at your feet right now. If they’re turned with your toes
pointed outwards, your piriformis is tight.
Another
way is to lie down and relax your legs. Now look at your feet. Chances are the
toes are turned outwards. Again, that’s a sign your piriformis is overly tight
and may be leading to pain.
How to end piriformis syndrome pain
The
good news is piriformis syndrome, painful as it may be, can usually be quickly
reversed. Naturally you’ll want to start by giving your piriformis muscle a
much needed break.
This
means take it easy with the running, jumping, hiking, climbing, bicycling, and
rowing. Take frequent breaks when sitting so the piriformis doesn’t remain in a
contracted state for prolonged periods.
Then
begin targeted stretching exercises to relieve the tension in the piriformis muscle and end
piriformis syndrome pain. You’ll find three easy stretches you can do without
leaving your chair in the Video HERE.
Many
people get pain relief the first time they try these stretches and most
overcome their piriformis syndrome symptoms within a couple weeks through
targeted stretching.
By
Jesse Cannone - Creator of the International Best-Selling Back Pain Treatment
Program "Lose the Back Pain System" and Best-Selling Book "The 7
Day Back Pain Cure"
Unlike most
treatments which only deliver temporary relief, if any at all, muscle balance
therapy delivers lasting relief to 8 out of 10 people who use it because it
addresses the underlying cause of the pain, not just the symptoms.
If you are suffering from any type of back pain, neck pain or sciatica, I urge you to learn more about this breakthrough new treatment. Click HERE to learn more
If you are suffering from any type of back pain, neck pain or sciatica, I urge you to learn more about this breakthrough new treatment. Click HERE to learn more