Piriformis Syndrome Research Articles

Piriformis Syndrome and Variants – A Comprehensive Review on Diagnosis and Treatment

Piriformis syndrome (PS) is an entrapment neuropathy caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle (PM). PS pain is described as deep, aching type with tingling and numbness, radiating from the gluteal and perineal area down to the lower limb. Rarely, this nondisc sciatica can present with associated pudendal neuralgia due to added pudendal nerve (PN) Type 1 entrapment. Women are much more likely to develop PS than men. The diagnosis is difficult in the past due to the lack of standardized diagnostic tests. Cases can present with symptoms attributable to PS. They report sciatica, paraesthesia, numbness, and episodic sharp pain in the perineal area, which is exacerbated on prolonged sitting, standing, and walking. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of lumbosacral spine and lumbosacral plexus are usually normal. Their clinical symptoms can be misdiagnosed with urinary tract infection. The treatment with antibiotics has no effect on pain and paraesthesia. The urine cultures are negative, consultation with a neurosurgeon is requested due to associated sciatic pain. The compression of sciatic nerve and PN by PM is rare but possible. These symptoms can be misdiagnosed and mistreated. Nondisc sciatica is no longer a rarity with the easy availability of MRI for most patients with lumbago and sciatica. The awareness of possible association of Type 1 pudendal neuralgia with PS is necessary.

New treatment options for piriformis syndrome

This paper discusses modern approaches to the diagnosis and management of patients with piriformis syndrome. Epidemiological data on the prevalence of this syndrome in neurological practice are presented. The anatomical features of this region, leading to the formation of piriformis syndrome, are described in detail. The authors provide diagnostic criteria based on neurological examination and manual muscle testing and discuss the differential diagnosis of piriformis syndrome. New possibilities of treating this syndrome using a fixed combination of diclofenac and orphenadrine registered in the Russian Federation as a drug for intravenous infusion neodolpasse are discussed in detail. The authors cite materials from their own work, a clinical case of managing a patient with piriformis syndrome using neodolpasse is analyzed.

Comparison of manual therapy and pharmacotherapy effectiveness in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with piriformis syndrome

Introduction . Piriformis syndrome (PFS) refers to tension of the piriformis muscle followed by compression of the sciatic nerve in the sciatic foramen. PFS occurs in 6-35 % of patients with low back pain. Such a dispersion can be explained by the difficulty in PFS diagnosing and its frequent non-detection against the background of concomitant masking pathologies. Despite the great progress in PFS research, much remains unclear. This concerns first of all the clarification of epidemiological data, risk factors and optimal treatment regimens. The widely used drug therapy does not always lead to the achievement of the required results, and it dictates the need searching for new therapy methods. Manual therapy has been successfully used for a long time in the treatment of patients with this nosology, however, most often, as an addition to the ongoing pharmacotherapy. Evaluation of the effectiveness and objectification of the manual treatment methods using as monotherapy has been little studied. The goal of research — to study the clinical effectiveness of the manual therapy and pharmacotherapy in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with piriformis syndrome. Materials and methods . The study was conducted in 2018-2019 on the clinical basis of the Department of Sports Medicine and Medical Rehabilitation of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I. M. First Moscow State University Sechenov (Sechenov University). The study involved 40 patients. All participants were divided into two equal groups. In the main group (group I), patients were treated with manual therapy methods, in the other group (group II), only pharmacotherapy was used. Results . The use of manual therapy in patients with piriformis syndrome leads to a significantly more pronounced decrease in the degree of pain syndrome and normalization of impaired muscle tone, in comparison with pharmacotherapy. Complications and negative reactions during treatment and after the application of methods of manual influence were not observed in all cases. Conclusion . There was a positive trend in the use of manual therapy methods for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with piriformis syndrome in this study. It allows recommending the use of manual methods of treatment in patients with this nosology.

Guidelines for botulinum neurotoxin injections in piriformis syndrome.

The piriformis muscle is normally involved in piriformis syndrome and can be treated with botulinum neurotoxin using several different injection methods. However, definitive injection guidelines for the muscle have not been reported previously. This study aimed to determine the ideal area for injections based on the intramuscular nerve distribution as obtained using a modified Sihler's staining technique. A modified Sihler's method was applied to the piriformis muscle in 15 specimens. The intramuscular arborization areas were identified based on two anatomical landmarks: (a) the lateral border of the sacrum bone and (b) the greater trochanter. The nerve entry point for both piriformis muscles was found in the area between the lateral border of the sacrum and one-fifth of the distance toward the greater trochanter. The intramuscular nerve distribution for the piriformis muscle had the largest arborization patterns between one-fifth and two-fifths of the distance from the sacrum to the greater trochanter. The piriformis muscle was tendinous from two-fifths of the distance to the greater trochanter. This study has yielded suggested optimal injection locations for the piriformis muscle relative to external anatomical landmarks. Clinicians can use these guidelines to ensure the effectiveness of not only botulinum neurotoxin injections but also other agents such as steroids, anesthetics, and normal saline. These guidelines will also help to avoid adverse outcomes of injection treatments.

Piriformis Syndrome is a Rare Cause of Insidious Unilateral Lower Limb Weakness and Buttock Pain: a Case Report

Piriformis Syndrome is a Rare Cause of Insidious Unilateral Lower Limb Weakness and Buttock Pain: a Case Report

A clinical approach of neuropathic pain in piriformis syndrome: case presentation and rehabilitation particularities

Piriformis syndrome is a rare cause of sciatica and buttock pain and is usually considered as a diagnosis of exclusion for patients with a history of trauma. It usually presents without abnormalities regarding sensory and motor functions and tends to have a favorable evolution with pharmacological treatment. We present the case of a patient with posttraumatic piriformis syndrome who came to our department with significant pain and muscle weakness. The diagnosis was confirmed using clinical tests, imaging techniques and electroneurography. The patient did not respond to pharmacologic treatment alone and therefore surgery was performed. Surgery along with pharmacological treatment, complementary pain treatment and physical rehabilitation provided a favorable outcome. Keywords: neurology, rehabilitation, piriformis syndrome, deep gluteal syndrome, traumatic neuropathy, neuropathic pain,

Sciatic Nerve Variants and the Piriformis Muscle: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The present systematic review and meta-analysis provides a comprehensive assessment of the sciatic nerve (SN) variants relative to the piriformis muscle (PM) and compares those variants’ prevalence among different geographical populations with respect to gender and laterality. A database search was conducted to identify cadaveric studies pertinent to SN variants relative to the PM. A total of 44 articles were included. The typical morphological pattern (type A, with the SN passing undivided below the PM) was found to be the most common variant, with 90% pooled prevalence. SN variants were more common among East Asians, with a 31% pooled prevalence of total variants. No significant differences were established with respect to gender and laterality. In greater than 10% of the population, the SN coursed through or above piriformis. Patients’ epidemiological characteristics may predispose them to certain variants. The common peroneal nerve (CPN) is more susceptible to injury during a total hip arthroplasty or a hip arthroscopy where anomalies are encountered. As anatomical variants are commonly associated with piriformis syndrome, they should always be considered during diagnosis and treatment.

Evaluation of the reliability and validity of Functional Assessment Of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being-Expanded in elderly patients with chronic orthopaedic diseases.

The Functional Assessment Of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being-Expanded (FACIT-Sp-Ex) scale can simultaneously evaluate the quality of life and spiritual health level of patients with chronic orthopaedic diseases. We performed the FACIT-Sp-Ex scale in Chinese, and tested its reliability and validity in patients with chronic orthopaedic diseases. There were 249 patients with chronic orthopaedic diseases who were selected for the questionnaire survey. AMOS 23.0 and SPSS 25.0 were used for statistical analysis to calculate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the scale. The Chinese version of FACIT-Sp-Ex scale showed that root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.06. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.83, the subscale was 0.72 ~ 0.82. The meaning, peace, relational subscales and total scale of the FACIT-Sp-Ex were negatively correlated with hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and positively correlated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL). All four subdomains were inversely associated with HADS anxiety symptoms, the peace and relational subscales were inversely associated with HADS depressive symptoms. Elderly female patients score higher than male patients in faith subscale. The highest-scoring disease in FACIT-Sp-Ex faith scale was osteoarthritis, which in FACIT-Sp-Ex total scale are piriformis syndrome and osteoarthritis. The Chinese version of FACIT-Sp-Ex scale has good reliability and validity, which can be used as an evaluation tool for the spiritual status and quality of life of Chinese elderly chronic orthopaedic patients.

Sciatic Nerve Entrapment (Deep Gluteal Syndrome) as a Cause of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: A Case Report

Sciatic Nerve Entrapment (Deep Gluteal Syndrome) as a Cause of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: A Case Report

Frequency of potential causes of lower back pain and incidental findings in patients with suspected sacroiliitis: retrospective analysis of 886 patients with negative sacroiliac MRI examination for sacroiliitis.

In a majority of patients with suspected sacroiliitis (SI) who underwent sacroiliac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), imaging studies may be normal, may depict other causes for pain, or may show clinically irrelevant incidental findings. To determine the prevalence of possible etiologies other than SI and frequency of incidental findings demonstrated on sacroiliac MRI examinations in a cohort of patients with lower back pain and suspected SI. Sacroiliac MRI examinations of 1421 patients with suspected SI were retrospectively reviewed. In patients without SI findings, other potential causes for lower back pain and incidental findings were documented. SI was present in 535 of 1421 patients (37.6%). In 886 of the patients whose MRI studies were negative for SI, other possible causes for lower back pain or incidental findings were seen in 386 (43.5%). The most common musculoskeletal (MSK) finding was lumbosacral transitional vertebra (8.6%) followed by findings suggesting piriformis syndrome (4.2%), spondylosis (3.7%), and sacral insufficiency fractures (1.8%). The most common non-MSK findings were follicular cysts (15.3%) and uterine fibroids (4.9%). In patients with suspected SI but negative MRI examinations for SI, some other possible causes for lower back pain and several incidental findings can be seen on imaging. The presence of these findings may explain the patient's symptoms, and awareness of these conditions may be helpful in patient management and individualizing treatment.

Exploring the Risk Factors for the Misdiagnosis of Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head: A Case-Control Study.

ObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to evaluate the present situation and risk factors for the misdiagnosis of osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH), providing the basis for accurate diagnosis of ONFH.MethodsFor this retrospective study, 1471 patients with ONFH were selected from the China Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head Database (CONFHD). These patients had been recruited between July 2016 and December 2018. According to whether or not they were misdiagnosed, the patients were divided into two groups, with 1168 cases (22–84 years old) included in the diagnosis group and 303 cases (21–80 years old) in the misdiagnosis group. Misdiagnosis was measured using the following criteria: (i) the patient had the same symptoms and signs, and the second diagnosis was not consistent with the initial diagnosis within 6 months; and (ii) the patient was admitted to a hospital participating in CONFHD and the previous diagnosis was inconsistent with the diagnosis given by the expert group. Comparisons of age, visual analogue scale for pain, and body mass index between the two groups were performed using a t‐test. Gender, causes of ONFH, primary diseases requiring corticosteroids, methods of corticosteroid use, corticosteroid species, type of trauma, onset side of the disease, pain side, whether symptoms are hidden, and type of imaging examination at the initial visit were compared using the χ2‐test. Years of alcohol consumption, weekly alcohol consumption, and physician title at the initial visit were compared using a Mann–Whitney U‐test. Furthermore, the statistically significant factors were evaluated using multiple regression analysis to investigate the risk factors of misdiagnosis.ResultsA total of 303 patients (20.6%) were misdiagnosed: 118 cases were misdiagnosed as lumbar disc herniation, 86 cases as hip synovitis, 48 cases as hip osteoarthritis, 32 cases as rheumatoid arthritis, 11 cases as piriformis syndrome, 5 cases as sciatica, and 3 cases as soft‐tissue injury. Whether symptoms are hidden (P = 0.038, odds ratio [OR] = 1.546, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.025–2.332), physician title at the initial visit (P < 0.001, OR = 3.324, 95% CI = 1.850–5.972), X‐ray examination (P < 0.001, OR = 4.742, 95% CI = 3.159–7.118), corticosteroids (P < 0.001, OR = 0.295, 95% CI = 0.163–0.534), alcohol (P < 0.001, OR = 0.305, 95% CI = 0.171–0.546), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination (P = 0.042, OR = 0.649, 95% CI = 0.427–0.985) were each found to be associated with misdiagnosis.ConclusionOsteonecrosis of the femoral head is easily misdiagnosed as lumbar disc herniation, hip synovitis, hip osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Patient history of corticosteroid use or alcohol abuse and MRI examination at the initial diagnosis may be protective factors for misdiagnosis. Hidden symptoms, physician title at the initial visit (as attending doctor or resident doctor), and only X‐ray examination at the initial diagnosis may be risk factors for misdiagnosis.

Deep gluteal space anatomy and its relationship with deep gluteal pain syndromes.

Increasing interest has been seen in understanding the anatomy and biomechanics involved in the Deep Gluteal Syndrome, therefore the main objective of our paper was to define the anatomy of the deep gluteal space concerning the important osseous, muscular and neurological structures. 12 cadaveric models (24 hemipelvises) were used. We proceeded with classical anatomic dissection and evaluated numerous osseous, musculotendinous and neurologic structures and their relationships. We also determined the femoral anteversion and neck-shaft angles. We found that 15.4% of lower limbs examined presented variations in the sciatic nerve (SN) emergence, and this was significantly longer in men. The distance from the SN to the trochanteric region was also significantly lower in males.The average ischiofemoral distance (IFD) was 2.5 ± 1.3 cm, at the same time that the structures comprised in that space showed superior areas, such as the quadratus femoris (QF) with 5.0 ± 1.1 cm and the SN with 1.4 ± 0.3 cm widths.Besides that, we also evaluated the distance from the SN to the lesser trochanter (LT) and the ischial tuberosity (IT), in the ischiofemoral space, reaching average values of 1.1 ± 0.7 cm and 1.5 ± 0.6 cm respectively.Regarding the relationship between the proximal hamstring insertion, we verified that the LT was at an average distance of 1.6 ± 1.1 cm, that the SN was only 0.2 ± 0.3 cm lateral to it, and the PN is just 2.6 ± 1.2 cm proximal to it. Our study confirmed the extreme variation in the SN origin that can contribute to the Piriformis syndrome. The IFD obtained in our study showed that this distance was small for the structures contained in this space.The proximal hamstring insertion showed a significantly more extended footprint in males, which puts the pudendal nerve (PN) at higher risk of iatrogenic injury.

‘Hand on hip’ sign: A novel screening test and diagnostic tool in piriformis syndrome

Introduction: Currently there is no gold standard clinical test or investigation available to diagnose piriformis syndrome. We have found a pose used by the patients to describe the pain in the gluteal region in cases of suspected piriformis syndrome. This pose in our study has been described as ‘hand on hip sign’ (HHS). In this study, we aim to assess the significance of this sign in screening of patients with piriformis syndrome. Materials and methods: Seventy patients presenting with pain in the gluteal region with radiculopathy between the age group of 18 years and 60 years were included. All patients were asked to locate the site of the pain in the gluteal region. The demonstration of pain by the patients was noted. If the description matched the description of HHS, it was considered to be positive, else it was considered negative. All patients were subjected to four piriformis-specific confirmatory clinical tests. Considering that there is no single confirmatory test, any patient in whom any two piriformis-specific signs were elicited was considered as a case of piriformis syndrome. Using the data, sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative likelihood ratio of the HHS in the diagnosis of piriformis syndrome were calculated. Inter-test comparison was also made using Cohen’s kappa statistic. Results: HHS was found to have a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 75%. It also has a high positive predictive value of 94% and a positive likelihood ratio of 3.44. Inter-test reliability comparison showed that there was a fair to moderate agreement between HHS and other confirmatory piriformis-specific tests. Conclusion: HHS serves as an effective screening test in the identification of piriformis syndrome.

Extra-spinal sciatica and sciatica mimics: a scoping review.

Not all sciatica-like manifestations are of lumbar spine origin. Some of them are caused at points along the extra-spinal course of the sciatic nerve, making diagnosis difficult for the treating physician and delaying adequate treatment. While evaluating a patient with sciatica, straightforward diagnostic conclusions are impossible without first excluding sciatica mimics. Examples of benign extra-spinal sciatica are: piriformis syndrome, walletosis, quadratus lumborum myofascial pain syndrome, cluneal nerve disorder, and osteitis condensans ilii. In some cases, extra-spinal sciatica may have a catastrophic course when the sciatic nerve is involved in cyclical sciatica, or the piriformis muscle in piriformis pyomyositis. In addition to cases of sciatica with clear spinal or extra-spinal origin, some cases can be a product of both origins; the same could be true for pseudo-sciatica or sciatica mimics, we simply don’t know how prevalent extra-spinal sciatica is among total sciatica cases. As treatment regimens differ for spinal, extra-spinal sciatica, and sciatica-mimics, their precise diagnosis will help physicians to make a targeted treatment plan. As published works regarding extra-spinal sciatica and sciatica mimics include only a few case reports and case series, and systematic reviews addressing them are hardly feasible at this stage, a scoping review in the field can be an eye-opener for the scientific community to do larger-scale prospective research.

Manual therapy and visual color-impulse therapy in the rehabilitation of patients with piriformis syndrome

Introduction.Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a condition accompanied by tension of the piriformis muscle and followed then by compression of the sciatic nerve passing through the piriformis muscle. According to statistics, PS occurs in 6–35 % of patients with lower back pain. Practitioners still face difficulties in treating patients with PS, and it necessitates the searching of new therapy methods and assessment of their compatibility.The goal of research— to study the clinical efficacy of the combined use of manual therapy and visual colorimpulse therapy in patients with piriformis syndrome.Materials and methods. A prospective, controlled, randomized study was conducted in 2019 at the Department of Sports Medicine and Medical Rehabilitation of I. M. Sechenov First Moscow Medical State University. In accordance with the inclusion criteria, 40 patients participated in the study. All participants, depending on the used treatment methodology, were divided by the method of simple randomization using envelopes into two equal groups. In the main group (group I), an integrated approach to treatment was tested: manual therapy in combination with visual color-impulse therapy (CIT); and in the other group (group II) only manual therapy was used.Results. The combined use of manual therapy and CIT in patients with piriformis syndrome leads to a significantly more pronounced decrease in the pain degree and normalization of impaired muscle tone. Also, an integrated approach helps to eliminate existing angiospastic disorders of the lower extremities.Conclusion. The study shows a clear positive dynamics in the integrated use of manual therapy methods in combination with visual color-impulse therapy in the treatment of patients with piriformis syndrome. It is planned to continue the study and assess the possibilities of using the combined technique in different groups of patients (athletes, pregnant women) with this syndrome.

The Role of the Sciatic Nerve Ultrasound Elastography in the Clinical Pathway: A Meta-analysis

Over the last few years, more papers were published related to the usefulness of sciatic nerve ultrasound elastography in clinical practice. Ultrasound elastography is a diagnostic method, to measure elasticity and strain in tissues and organs. The aim of this review was to highlight the usefulness of sciatic nerve ultrasound elastography in clinical practice, strictly compared with electromyography and MRI findings. Sonoelastographic evaluation was performed predominantly in patients with deep gluteal syndrome (DGS).

Postoperative Deep Gluteal Syndrome After Hip Arthroscopic Surgery.

Background:Deep gluteal syndrome (DGS) is an uncommon source of buttock and groin pain, resulting from entrapment of the sciatic nerve in the deep gluteal space. The incidence and risk factors of postoperative DGS after primary hip arthroscopic surgery are currently unknown.Purpose:To investigate the incidence and risk factors of postoperative DGS after primary hip arthroscopic surgery.Study Design:Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:This study reviewed 1167 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery between 2010 and 2018 by a single surgeon at a single center in Japan. DGS was defined using the seated piriformis stretch test, active hamstring test, and evidence of a hypertrophic sciatic nerve on magnetic resonance imaging. Overall, 11 of 1167 patients were diagnosed with DGS postoperatively. The DGS group (n = 11) was compared with the non-DGS group (n = 1156). Patient age, sex, body mass index (BMI), generalized joint laxity (GJL; Beighton score >6), number of hip arthroscopic procedures, and radiographic parameters including lateral center-edge angle, Sharp angle, vertical center anterior angle, Tönnis angle, alpha angle, ischiofemoral distance, ischiofemoral space, and quadratus femoris space were compared. The prevalence of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and borderline DDH (BDDH) was also compared. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify potential predictors for a postoperative DGS diagnosis.Results:The incidence of postoperative DGS in our study was 0.9%. Female sex (male:female ratio: 0:11 in DGS group vs 568:588 in non-DGS group; P < .01), mean number of hip surgical procedures (1.8 ± 0.9 in DGS group vs 1.1 ± 0.4 in non-DGS group; P < .01), and GJL (P < .01) were significantly higher in the DGS group, while the mean BMI was significantly lower in the DGS group (19.8 ± 1.8 vs 22.7 ± 3.6 kg/m2, respectively; P < .01). Radiographic parameters were not significantly different between groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex (odds ratio [OR], 22.0 [95% CI, 1.29-374.56]), multiple surgical procedures (OR, 7.8 [95% CI, 2.36-25.95]), GJL (OR, 40.9 [95% CI, 8.74-191.70]), lower BMI (OR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.644-0.914]), and DDH/BDDH (OR, 18.1 [95% CI, 2.30-142.10]) were potential predictors of postoperative DGS.Conclusion:The incidence of postoperative DGS in our study was 0.9%. The predictors for postoperative DGS after hip arthroscopic surgery were female sex, GJL, multiple hip surgical procedures, and DDH/BDDH. Although hip arthroscopic surgery can provide favorable clinical outcomes, surgeons should be aware of the risk factors for DGS as a complication of hip arthroscopic surgery.

Letter to the Editor Regarding “Feasibility and Reliability of an Ultrasound Examination to Diagnose Piriformis Syndrome”

Letter to the Editor Regarding “Feasibility and Reliability of an Ultrasound Examination to Diagnose Piriformis Syndrome”

Dexamethasone Versus Magnesium Sulfate as an Adjuvant to Local Anesthetics in the Ultra-Sound Guided Injection of Piriformis Muscle for the Treatment of Piriformis Syndrome

Background:Piriformis Syndrome (PS) is an underdiagnosed cause of buttock, thigh and leg pain, most probably because it is thought to be a rare cause of sciatica. PS is widely believed to be myofascial in origin.Materials and Methods:This prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study was conducted at the pain management department. 50 patients aged from 20 to 60 years old were included in this study. The selected patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups containing 25 patients each; Group D received a total of 5 mL which included 2mL lidocaine 2%, 2mL (8 mg) dexamethasone and 1mL normal saline 0.9%, and Group M received a total of 5mL which included 2mL lidocaine 2%, 3mL magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) (2.5%) . Patients demographic characteristics, baseline physical examination findings of the patients as well as the duration of pain were all recorded. Patients were re-assessed immediately after injection, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the injection. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) values were used at each evaluation time to assess the pain, while patients were in sitting, standing, and lying positions. All patients were assessed immediately and for 4 hours post-injection for any side effects related to the drugs used.Results:In the pre-injection time, immediately after and 1 week after injection, there were no statistically significant differences between groups D and M in pain values. While, on comparison between both groups, group M, was significantly better than group D, in NRS values 1 month and 3 months after injection. In group D, pain score values were significantly better immediately, 1 week, and 1 month after injection compared to the pre-injection values, while these values were not significantly different 3 months after injection compared with the pre-injection values. In group M, pain score values were significantly better immediately, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after injection compared to the pre-injection values.Conclusion:Magnesium sulfate was more effective, especially for long term pain relief (3 months) when compared to dexamethasone as they were used as adjuvants to lidocaine, if injected into the piriformis muscle (PM) guided by ultrasound in the management of PS refractory as initial conservative treatment.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE OVER STRETCHING ON PAIN AND RANGE OF MOTION AMONG FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENT WITH PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME

Title: The Effectiveness of Myofascial Release over Stretching on Pain and Range of Motion among Female College Students with Piriformis Syndrome.Background &amp; Aim: Piriformis syndrome is a painful neuromuscular disorder that occurs when the piriformis muscle irritates and/or compresses the proximal sciatic nerve. Prolonged sitting position is the foremost cause of piriformis tightness in sedentary population that may eventually leads to piriformis syndrome. The incidence of piriformis has been reported to be six times more prevalent in female than in males. Piriformis tightness will cause reduced in range of motion as well as limitations in walking, sitting and even running. Moreover, individuals will also feel pain at their butt muscles which could be frustrating. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of myofascial release over stretching on pain and range of motion among female college students with piriformis syndrome.Methods: twenty subjects aged between 19 to 25 years old with tight piriformis muscle for 4 weeks will make a part of the study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subjects are divided and will undergo myofascial release and stretching treatment for 4 weeks twice in a week. At the beginning before the session the pain score and goniometer measurements will be recorded.Conclusion: Group 1 and Group 2 are beneficial in reducing pain and range of motion. Therefore, there are no significant effect of myofascial release over stretching between the two groups.Keywords: Myofascial release, college students, piriformis syndrome, stretching, goniometer, pain score.