Piriformis Syndrome

Understanding Piriformis Syndrome: A Common Cause of Sciatic-Like Pain

If you’ve ever experienced a deep, nagging ache in your buttock that radiates down your leg, you might have come across something called piriformis syndrome. While it often feels like sciatica, the underlying cause is quite different — and it is something worth understanding if you're seeking lasting relief.

🔍 What is the Piriformis Muscle?

The piriformis is a small pear-shaped muscle located deep within the buttock. It connects the sacrum (the base of your spine) to the greater trochanter of the femur (the top of the thigh bone). Its primary job is to help rotate the hip and stabilise the pelvis during movement.

🔥 Common Pain Patterns

When the piriformis becomes tight, inflamed, or goes into spasm, it can compress or irritate the sciatic nerve, which runs nearby (or sometimes even through the muscle in certain individuals). This often leads to:

• Deep aching or burning in the buttock

• Pain that may travel down the back of the thigh and into the leg

• Discomfort when sitting for long periods

• Aggravation during activities like walking, climbing stairs, or prolonged standing

  
  

⚠️ Sciatic-Like — But Not True Sciatica

Although the pain mimics sciatica, piriformis syndrome is not the same thing. True sciatica typically originates in the spine, often from a herniated disc or spinal compression/spinal stenosis. In contrast, piriformis syndrome is a muscle issue and classified as a neuromuscular condition, and while it may produce sciatic-like symptoms, it does not originate in the spine. That’s why proper diagnosis is so important.

💆‍♀️ How Massage Therapy May Help

Soft tissue work, stretching, myofascial release and targeted massage may help relieve tightness in the piriformis muscle and reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve particularly when focused on the deep gluteal muscles, the lower back and the legs and can help ease piriformis tension, improve mobility, and reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve.

📩 Feel free to get in touch with any questions or to book a session.

Disclaimer: As a massage therapist, I am not qualified to diagnose medical conditions. If you are experiencing sciatic-like pain or any persistent discomfort, please consult your GP or other primary healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis. You may be eligible for treatment through the NHS, depending on your individual circumstances, your condition and local services.

If you're seeking a complementary approach to manage muscle tension and improve mobility, massage therapy can be a valuable part of your recovery plan—after you've been properly assessed by a medical professional.

📩 Feel free to get in touch with any questions or to book a session.

Exercises to help between

The KEY To Fix Piriformis Syndrome … For Good. (DON’T stretch it!)

body pain