Self Myofascial Release in Individuals With Piriformis Syndrome

Summary

Piriformis syndrome is pain that extends from the hip to the knee, caused by the pressure of the piriformis muscle in the hip on the sciatic nerve. There is no valid protocol for the treatment of this syndrome. Physiotherapists generally use hip strengthening exercises and modalities for pain. In this study, in addition to the classical treatment, we will give two different programs consisting of self-myofascial relaxation and stretching exercises to two different groups for 4 weeks as home exercise. We will question the level of pain that people felt in the hip before starting the exercises and at the 4th week after starting the exercises and measured the hip joint range of motion.

Conditions

• Piriformis Muscle Syndrome

Interventions

OTHER

Muscle Stretching

Stretching based on the FAIR (flexion, adduction and internal rotation) position, which provides the most effective stretching on the piriformis muscle, was demonstrated, and a illustrated brochure containing the explanatory information of the application was given to the group participants. With the ipsilateral hip flexion, adduction and internal rotation, the foot is positioned to the lateral side of the contralateral knee, thus long-term passive stretching is targeted in this position. Individuals were asked to leave a 2-days gap between the two stretching exercise sessions by performing 10 repetitions (minimum duration of 15 s stretching, 30 s rest period between repetitions) 3 sets and 3 days of a week.

OTHER

Self Myofascial Release

The patient was presented with the anatomically localized area of the PiM on a visual anatomy map and they were encouraged to find this area on their body. They were asked to verify the trigger points along the PiM and then sat on the trigger points with the help of a tennis ball. Individuals were taught the PiM-SMR exercise, in which they would make forward-backward, right-left, diagonal and circular movements on the ball using their body weight. There was a continuation of the application with an interval of 2 days; 3 times a day with 10 repetitions (the application was for 1 min and 30s rest period between repetitions).

OTHER

home exercises

The exercise brochure consists of 5 different exercises that include isometric and isotonic strengthening of the hip and surrounding muscles. Isometric contraction of gluteus maximus, hip march, external/internal rotation of hips with theraband, 4 sided straight leg raises were the exercises and prescribed 5 days a week, 10 repetitions, 3 sets. All participants were advised to use analgesics determined by the physician in case of unbearable pain and to apply a hot pack for 10-20 minutes before sessions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Medipol University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gizem Ergezen, PhD · Medipol University

• Mustafa Sahin, PhD · Medipol University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-03-08

Primary Completion

2022-05-07

Completion

2022-12-03

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations