Causes of Piriformis syndrome
Piriformis syndrome can be traced to anything that makes piriformis press on the sciatic nerve. Here’s a list of the most common causes of piriformis syndrome:
- Inflammation (swelling) in the piriformis or the tissues around it.
- Scarring in the tissues
- Muscle spasms.
This issues can result from:
- An injury on the hip, butt or leg, that could be from a fall or a car accident
- Climbing stairs, walking or running without strong enough piriformis muscles.
- Having tight muscles due to lack of physical activity.
- Lifting a heavy object in a way that could affect the piriformis muscle.
- Over Exercising or performing repetitive motions, such as long-distance running.
- Not warming up before physical activity or stretching properly afterward.
- Sitting for long periods of time (for example, people who sit a lot on the job).
But sometimes, Piriformis syndrome can come from abnormal anatomy. Healthcare providers refer to this case as primary piriformis syndrome. For example, a person can be born with a sciatic nerve that takes an abnormal path in their body. Or a person may have unusually formed Piriformis muscle or sciatic nerve from birth.