{"id":3784,"date":"2019-02-06T08:54:45","date_gmt":"2019-02-06T08:54:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=3784"},"modified":"2021-11-11T08:02:50","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T08:02:50","slug":"15-causes-of-piriformis-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-causes-of-piriformis-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Causes of Piriformis Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Short Leg Syndrome<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Sitting for Long Periods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

More and more people are finding themselves in a seated position for long periods of time. Jobs require a person to be sitting at a computer for long periods of time in order to get their work done. Sitting for long periods can cause a whole host of health problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research has shown that people who sit for long periods can develop heart issues, diabetes, and more. In addition, if you sit for long periods of time it may cause piriformis syndrome to develop. This is mainly due to the way that you sit and not providing the piriformis muscle with the exercises that it needs in order to remain healthy and functioning properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walking and stretching out the piriformis muscle<\/a> is important. If you have a job that requires you to sit for long periods of time, try to take frequent breaks where you stand up and work or simply walk around for a few minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Wearing High Heels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a woman wearing high heels is quite fashionable. In fact, many women choose this type of shoe to make their legs look longer. A great pair of high heels can make any outfit go from okay to fabulous and every woman knows this. However, there are some downfalls to wearing high heels on a regular basis. One of the downfalls is that these shoes can cause a person to develop piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle becomes inflamed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wearing high heels puts extra strain <\/a>on the hips and leg muscles. If you are struggling with leg pain that is caused by piriformis syndrome, it might just be time to put the heels away and trade them in for some fun flats instead. While flats may not be your shoe of choice, they are much better for your leg muscles and can help when you are dealing with the pain associated with the piriformis muscle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Pregnancy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a woman is pregnant it can wreak havoc on her body, after all, she is growing another human inside of her. Along with the many other ailments that a pregnant <\/a>woman may have such as morning sickness, frequent urination, and overall aches and pains, a woman may start to experience hip and joint pain during her pregnancy. As the fetus is growing it can begin to put pressure on the hip bone and the piriformis muscle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this occurs, the woman may experience leg pain as there is added pressure to the sciatic nerve. During pregnancy, the hips are often stretched, which can cause the piriformis muscle to work extra hard. Doing exercises that are safe during pregnancy can help alleviate some of the symptoms of piriformis syndrome that occurs during pregnancy. It is important to discuss your symptoms with your OBGYN in order to make sure that your baby remains safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Poor Posture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chances are that you have been told by someone older than you that you need to have good posture<\/a>. The reason for this is because poor posture can create many different health-related issues. This includes piriformis syndrome. Sitting up straight helps to alleviate a lot of pressure from your hips and other joints. It helps to stretch out the back and is good for your muscles in general. People who slouch over often, perhaps bent over a keyboard all day, may develop piriformis syndrome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for this is because slouching puts more pressure on the piriformis muscle as well as the other joints in the legs. If you find yourself slouching and are experiencing some of the symptoms of piriformis syndrome, try sitting up straight and practicing good posture as this can help to alleviate some of the issues that are being caused by piriformis syndromes such as hip and leg pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Injury<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any sharp blow to the buttock area or the lower back that causes injury <\/a>to the pelvis may cause a person to develop piriformis syndrome. If you fall down and land on your butt or your back, an injury to the piriformis muscle is likely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have taken a hard fall or have been in a motor vehicle accident and experience pain in your lower back, hips, or down your leg, chances are that you have injured your piriformis muscle. It is important to go to your doctor to determine the underlying cause of the pain that you are experiencing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your doctor will be able to help you once they understand exactly what your injury entails. Physical therapy, rest, and other exercises will likely be recommended to help you heal from the injury. Make sure that you do everything that your doctor recommends so that you can heal from the injury and ease the symptoms caused by piriformis syndrome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Overcompensation from Other Injuries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have injured your lower leg, knee, hip, or ankle, there is a good chance that you may develop piriformis syndrome. The reason for this is because when you are suffering from any type of leg injury you are going to overcompensate by using one leg more than the other. When you have a knee injury, such as an injured ACL, you will try to keep your knee as straight as possible while it is healing. This can cause you to use your other leg more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you do this it can cause your hips to move out of place, causing pressure on your piriformis muscle. When there is extra pressure on your piriformis muscle it can become inflamed. This inflammation <\/a>can cause pain throughout the leg that is not injured. It is important to take care of the leg that is injured and try to make sure that you are resting and stretching often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Certain Exercises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone knows that it is good to exercise<\/a>. In fact, it is recommended that you try to get at least 30 minutes of activity each day. This helps to keep your heart and body healthy and functioning properly. However, there are certain activities that may cause a person to develop piriformis syndrome. Cycling and running are two activities that may cause a person to get piriformis syndrome. The repetitive motion that these activities require can put extra pressure on the piriformis muscles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any activity that requires repetitive forward motions of the leg can cause piriformis syndrome to occur. This is why it is important to make sure that you stretch well before performing any of these activities. You should also stretch afterward as this can help relax the muscle. There are many great hip flexor stretches that you can do in order to help alleviate some of the symptoms caused by piriformis syndrome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who develop piriformis syndrome typically have the condition occur due to a complication with dysfunction with another joint or ligament in the lower back or hips. An example is Sacroiliac Joint<\/a> Dysfunction (SI). SI occurs when the sacroiliac joint, joining the two sides of the hip, experiences pain and inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People dealing with SI often experience pain running down the back of the legs. As a result, they start to shift their posture when sitting and walking. Many people who continue with life untreated for SI will experience permanent changes to their stance. These body mechanics and dynamics changes result in strain on other areas in the hips, such as the piriformis joint. This strain results in piriformis syndrome in the affected individual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those individuals that get the right treatment for SI will notice that the piriformis syndrome starts to subside, relieving symptoms of pain and inflammation. With regular therapy, the patient will eventually recover from the use of their hips and avoid any further complications with piriformis syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Hip Disorders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who have hip disorders are more prone to developing piriformis syndrome. These individuals may experience congenital disabilities or trauma to the joint that changes its structural integrity. Hip disorders can occur due to problems with the ligaments supporting the hips. The hip flexors<\/a> can experience shortening due to spending long stretches sitting in an office chair at work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This repetitive seating behavior results in an imbalance in the hip flexors, affecting the surrounding musculature of the hips. As a result, the affected individual may start to notice the onset of piriformis syndrome. Typically, the patient will have plenty of advanced warnings about the oncoming problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Piriformis syndrome and hip problems take a long time to start showing up. In most cases, people will go for months or years without seeking treatment before the condition becomes unbearable. It\u2019s a good idea to take action and seek treatment as early as possible for any hip problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Osteoarthritis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Osteoarthritis <\/a>is a degenerative condition affecting the skeletal system. Arthritis is common in old age, and it\u2019s a sign of slowing protein synthesis. A lifetime of wear and tear on your joints can leave you with some aches and pains in your dotage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, osteoarthritis occurs in people over the age of 60. The condition involves the slow degeneration of the structural integrity of the skeletal system. Typically, seniors face this problem in the lower back or the hips. Osteoarthritis limits the range of motion in the joint, and it can also change the posture of the affected individual as they adjust their walking and sitting gait to prevent pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with osteoarthritis can cause muscular imbalances in the hips that cause the onset of piriformis syndrome in the affected individual. Most patients require treatment with medication designed to reduce inflammation in the affected area. In most cases, pain management drugs are not necessary for the management of the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Developmental Dysplasia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This congenital condition occurred when a newborn experiences a dislocated hip or a problem involving the easy dislocation of their hip. In most cases, the child has a smaller hip socket that doesn\u2019t allow for the full docking of the joint and effective range of motion or movement of the affected hip or hips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the baby experiences frequent dislocation of the hip joint, requiring medical intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequent dislocation can affect the muscles around the hips, causing structural imbalances. Structural imbalances on muscles cause dysfunction that can lead to the development of piriformis syndrome in the affected child. As a result, the disorder may severely limit the child\u2019s quality of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developmental dysplasia <\/a>is not a curable problem, and it follows the child into adolescence and later life. The person will need surgery to try and repair the joint, but they may develop postural problems regardless of the surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13 Irritable Hip Syndrome<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some children may develop irritable hip syndrome, especially after experiencing an upper-respiratory infection. The irritable hip syndrome will change the walking posture of a child due to the hip pain occurring from the condition. The child may develop a limp, and they require immediate medical attention to resolve the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Failing to treat and resolve the limp in the child may end up permanently altering their posture. Kids with posture problems may require hundreds of hours of physiotherapy to recover their normal movements. Posture problems also lead to muscular dysfunctions. In the case of children with irritable hip syndrome, they might start to cause imbalances in the hip flexors, resulting in the development of piriformis syndrome.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, irritable hip syndrome resolves by itself, without any medical intervention. However, if your child is still limping after 72-hours, take them to the doctor for a checkup and evaluation of their hips. The doctor will assess the problem and make recommendations for medicine or physiotherapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Lumbar Disc Injury<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The spine consists of the vertebrae, the bony joints<\/a>, and the discs, the soft cartilage that absorbs shock and pressure between the joints. As we age, the body starts to experience a slowdown in protein synthesis. Since proteins and amino acids are the building blocks of our body, some individuals begin to experience a more rapid deterioration of their skeletal system than others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals that develop spinal disorders like stenosis and spondylitis end up experiencing problems with the discs in their back. The discs may swell and inflame, resulting in the trapping of nerves and the spasming of muscles. The delicate network of nerves in the lower back plays a role in developing piriformis syndrome, especially in seniors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disc injuries from slip-and-falls in seniors and young adults may result in dysfunction of the nervous system and the onset of piriformis syndrome in the affected individual. Consult with your doctor if you have back pain that you think may be causing piriformis syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Lower Back Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who have piriformis syndrome often have issues involving the dysfunction of movement in their lower back<\/a>. The sciatic nerve extends from the lumbar spine through the hip joint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the lower back starts to experience muscular dysfunction, it creates stress and tension in the surrounding muscles. Eventually, this tension and stress spread to the piriformis muscle, resulting in the development of a condition known as \u201cSciatica.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sciatica is a somewhat debilitating and tremendously painful condition. Affected individuals experience the piriformis muscle clamping down on the sciatic nerve. As the tension occurs, the patient notices a sharp, searing pain shot down the back of their leg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with severe lower back pain are at risk of developing piriformis syndrome. Some of the attributing conditions include the following. <\/p>\n\n\n\n