Low Back Pain and Piriformis Syndrome

Here at Omnis Rehab Joint and Performance Center we see our fair share of low back pain, it is one of our most common complaints.  Did you know that your low back pain in Little Rock, Arkansas may not be caused by a low back issue at all?  Our Little Rock Chiropractic office and North Little Rock Chiropractic office see patients with low back pain caused from a condition called Piriformis syndrome every day and today we are going to learn about and how to fix this condition.

Piriformis Muscles

Piriformis Syndrome is a condition that affects the piriformis muscle, which is a muscle that stretches from the pelvis to the upper part of the thigh bone, and it is often mistaken for other, more prominent muscles.  When it comes to the muscle groups in the buttocks, most of our patients at our Little Rock Chiropractic office know about the big muscles players like the glute max, glute med and glute min, but have less education on the much smaller but just as important muscles.  These smaller muscle groups called the obturator internus and piriformis muscles are very important when it comes to the health and performance of our bodies.  

The piriformis muscles are the primary external rotators of your femur and upper leg.  They also produce a small amount of stabilization and adduction to the hip joint (think moving your leg out and away from the other leg, making a snow angel).  Another example for our Little Rock CrossFit athletes, when your coach tells you to “screw” your feet into the ground during a squat or a deadlift, the muscles you are activating are the piriformis and obturator internus muscles. 

Piriformis Syndrome

Now that we have a good understanding of the piriformis muscles and what they do, let’s talk about the pain and discomfort caused by piriformis syndrome.  If you suffer from this condition, you may feel numbness or tingling down the back of your legs, have pain in your glutes, or have a deep aching in the deep center of your glutes with activity.  No fun right?  

Piriformis syndrome is classified as a neuromuscular disorder that occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated or compressed by the piriformis muscle, causing pain and paresthesia along the sciatic nerve distribution down the back of the leg. Thankfully, piriformis syndrome can typically be managed and treated very well conservatively with chiropractic care and rehab at your Little Rock Chiropractic clinic. 

Treatment of Piriformis Syndrome through Chiropractic 

At Omnis Rehab: Joint and Performance Center, we are equipped to treat all types of low back injuries and conditions, including Piriformis Syndrome.  We may do soft tissue treatments like direct pressure over the muscle area and ART depending on the severity of your condition.   We may also use Little Rock Acupuncture therapy or do trigger point needling/ dry needling in clinic to help alleviate pain and symptoms.  Another effective treatment for piriformis syndrome is targeted stretching and muscle relaxation.  At Omnis Rehab: Joint and Performance Center, we not only want to treat you in clinic, we want to teach you proper techniques and stretches that you can utilize at home to deal with your condition.  Your Little Rock chiropractors are a tremendous guide for this kind of stretching therapy and guidance.  Alongside our hands on treatment protocols, if you need further help with these exercises, we may utilize the services of our on staff Physical Therapist.

No matter the issue, our staff at Omnis Rehab: Joint and Performance Center, can help you get back to healthy through Little Rock chiropractic care, Little Rock physical therapy, or Little Rock massage therapy. Visit our website to check insurance benefits or set up an appointment with one of our providers..