PIRIFORMIS REHAB . ⚡️ The piriformis is a muscle that is often implicated by clinicians and trainers alike as the sole cause for pain in the buttock region or symptoms traveling down the leg. However, as with most conditions, I think it’s difficult to reduce the experience of pain or symptoms to a single structure. What do you think? . 🍑 For those of you who have spent time in the cadaver lab, do you recall how small the piriformis actually is relative to some of its surrounding structures? For example, the gluteus maximus, the largest muscle in the body, is found superficially to the piriformis. Additionally, there’s a significant amount of adipose tissue in this region. How accurate are we at pressing through these structures to only isolate the piriformis? . ✌️ Two common strategies for relieving symptoms in this region involve the utilization of various rollers, balls, or stretches to “release” the piriformis. If the sciatic nerve sits directly underneath the piriformis in the majority of individuals, would sitting on a lacrosse ball further compress the structure we’re trying to relieve? Would stretching also compress the underlying nerve? . 🧐Whether you call it piriformis syndrome or another name, I treat discomfort in this region the same as most other conditions. I think it’s important to find the appropriate movements that match an individual’s goals and progress them over the course of weeks or months. I purposefully left out certain, popular exercises because most people have already seen or done them. .