15 Causes of Piriformis Syndrome

The piriformis is the muscle located just above the hip joint. It is located in the buttocks. When this muscle becomes damaged or inflamed it can cause a person to experience piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder. It is not very common and is caused by the piriformis muscle causing pressure on the sciatic nerve.

The piriformis muscle is important for lower body movement as it is what stabilizes your hip joint. It helps to lift and rotate the thigh from the body. This allows us to walk, maintain balance, and shift weight from side to side. It is used for sports that require rotating and lifting the thighs. Almost every motion from the thighs and hips uses the piriformis muscle. It can cause pain throughout the leg because of the pressure it puts on the sciatic nerve. Here are 8 causes of piriformis syndrome.

1. Short Leg Syndrome

Short leg syndrome may cause a person to experience piriformis syndrome. Short leg syndrome is when a person has one leg that appears to be longer than the other. This length discrepancy may occur in the tibia, femur, or both. There are two types of short leg syndrome, acquired or congenital, which means that you are born with the condition.

Birth injuries such as a hip dislocation during delivery can cause this syndrome. Poor posture and dislocation or an injury to the leg can cause one leg to be longer than the other, even after healing from the injury. If a person is diagnosed with short leg syndrome, they are likely to develop piriformis syndrome as well. This is because of the way that a person has to walk when one leg is longer than the other. It puts more strain on the hips, which can cause issues with the piriformis muscles.