Self Myofascial Release in Individuals With Piriformis Syndrome

Medipol Health Group

Status: Completed

Conditions: Piriformis Muscle Syndrome

Treatments: Other: Self Myofascial Release; Other: Muscle Stretching; Other: home exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05660005

E.10304 / 29.03.2018

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a condition caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, causing pain, tingling, and numbness. Although conservative treatment includes hip muscle strengthening and stretching, there is no proven treatment method in the literature.

This study will be conducted to investigate the effect of stretching and myofascial release added to standard physiotherapy treatment in piriformis syndrome.

This prospective, randomized controlled study will be planned to completed with 64 individuals between the ages of 20-40. Participants will be randomized into the Piriformis Muscle Stretch Group (PiM-S) and Piriformis Muscle Self Myofascial Release Group (PiM-SMR). Both groups will be included in a home program of muscle strengthening exercises for 4 weeks. And groups will be subjected to perform stretching and self-myofascial relaxation exercises, respectively, in addition to the home exercise program. The primary outcome of the study is pain intensity, and the secondary outcome is determined as the range of motion (ROM) of the hip.

Enrollment: 63 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female participants
• Aged 20 to 40 years
• Presented leg or hip posterior compartment pain
• Diagnosed with chronic PS and without any other source of pain

Exclusion criteria

• Any pathology or acute injury around the hip, sacroiliac joint, or lumbar spine;
• Limb length discrepancy,
• Recent buttock trauma,
• Deep gluteal syndrome,
• Extrapelvic compression of the sciatic nerve or sacral plexus ischiogluteal/ischiofemoral bursitis or impingement, Upper hamstring tendinitis,
• Fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome
• Pregnancy.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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63 participants in 3 patient groups

Piriformis Muscle Stretching

Active Comparator group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Other: Muscle Stretching

Piriformis Muscle Self Myofascial Release

Active Comparator group

Description:

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).

Treatment:

Other: Self Myofascial Release

Control Group

Experimental group

Description:

The individuals who refused to apply stretching or releasing included to the control group. They perform only home exercises of hip strengthening

Treatment:

Other: home exercises