Piriformis syndrome: 5 ways to prevent and stay healthy

piriformis syndrome

A proper treatment and some good habits, including a quality mattress, can help to prevent the pain caused by piriformis syndrome.

Even when is not common disease, the piriformis syndrome can affect the life causing severe pain and difficulties to run and even walking.

Arth Patel, MD, Sports Medicine Physician, in an article for Spine Health.com, defines ¨Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttock, spasms and causes buttock pain. The piriformis muscle can also irritate the nearby sciatic nerve and cause pain, numbness, and tingling along the back of the thigh and leg (similar to sciatica) ¨. Usually, piriformis syndrome affects one side of the body.

Research estimates that up to 17% of persons with chronic low back pain and leg pain have piriformis syndrome.

According to Focus Medica in an article reviewed by Dr. Shreenidhi Kulkarni (MS Orthopaedics), some recommendations to prevent the syndrome are:

Exercise regularly: Keep your full body healthy by exercising but choose those exercises according to your level of fitness.

About this point, Cleveland Clinic, a prestigious medical centre from US, recommends that ¨The best cardio exercise for piriformis syndrome is walking or using an elliptical machine¨.

They also recommend core exercises like crunches and planks and, about Yoga and Pilates, the article in their website says that ¨You’ll find many stretches and exercises in Yoga and Pilates classes that can relieve piriformis syndrome. These classes can also help you reach other muscles that might be tight¨.

The website Spine Health explains that ¨Stretching exercises are an important component of treatment for piriformis syndrome. Stretching the piriformis muscle and other muscles in the hip, thigh, and leg can help reduce pain and discomfort and improve the range of motion and function in the pelvis and hip¨.

Other recommendation from Focus Medica is avoid running or exercising on hills or uneven surface: if you like running, do it with shoes that provide good support on flat paths. Avoid that extra effort of a hard road that makes you go up and down making your body unstable.

Warm up properly before activity and use good postures while running or walking: Keep an eye on warming muscles and joints before exercising and stretch after workout.

Stop activities that cause pain: If certain specific movement hurts or makes the pain appear, avoid doing it. Repetitive movements at work or daily life can be done in a different way. Ask your doctor about it to find options.

¨Try not to sit for long periods. This puts pressure on your piriformis muscle and sciatic nerve. You may also want to avoid seated exercises such as biking, which could aggravate your condition¨ (Cleveland Clinic).

Get a good mattress: Proper rest can certainly help you to relief or stop pain. If you have an old not comfy mattress maybe is time to change to a new one that gives you good support and help sleep better.

Yinahla offers a range of different options of mattress made of different materials like Natural Latex, Gel or Visco Gel and varied range of firmness.

All Yinahla mattress are available in Single, King Single, Double, Queen, King and Super King sizes so everyone can find an option that fits their needs and preferences.

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For your health and comfort take the chance to get a great quality mattress at Yinahla.com.au.