A pear shaped muscle which originates at the anterior surface of the sacrum and inserts into the greater trochanter of the femur (the thigh bone).
This small muscle lays parallel with the posterior edge of the gluteus medius and when this muscle becomes aggravated or becomes spastic it can literally be a royal pain the butt. This is due largely to its close proximity to the sciatic nerve.
The sciatic nerve runs below the piriformis in 85% of people, and in the remaining 15%, the sciatic nerve passes directly through the piriforms, predisposing this 15% of the population to piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome is what is commonly known as Sciatica. Sciatica or piriformis syndrome can be described as a pain, tingling or numbness deep in the buttock and can radiate anywhere along the sciatic nerve, usually down the back of the thigh but sometimes all the way down to the foot as well.
What does the piriformis do?
The piriformis aids in the outer (external) rotation of the thigh bone when the thigh is extended in the hip socket. If the thigh is flexed at the hip the piriformis aids in the abduction of the thigh from the medial line (moving leg away) of the body.
Exercises :
Seated at the edge of a chair, feet flat on the floor, legs at approximately 90 degrees of flexion from the hips, stretch the right piriformis by placing your right ankle to the outside of the left knee, supporting the right leg by interlacing your fingers around the right shin. Stretch by bringing your right knee towards the left shoulder; do not come to pain, but a gentle easeful stretch.
Same stretch can be achieved in supine. Place outside of right shin onto left thigh above the knee, interlacing the fingers behind the left thigh and bringing the left knee to left shoulder. Do not come to pain, but to a gentle easeful stretch.
Have fun exploring your periformis and the yoga poses that relieve or prevent the pain in your butt!
See you on the mat!
