piriformis

Muscles to Know: The Piriformis

August 4, 2010 at 5:32am

The PiriformisLOCATION:
Posterior aspect of pelvis, deep to Gluteus Maximus and just inferior to Gluteus Medius

WORD ORIGIN:
Piriformis is Latin, meaning “pear-shaped”

ATTACHMENTS:
Axial (origin): anterolateral sacrum
Appendicular (insertion): greater trochanter of the femur

ACTIONS:
With thigh flexed less than 60 degrees...
* Lateral rotation of the thigh at the hip joint  

With thigh flexed more than 60 degrees...
* Medial rotation of the thigh at the hip joint
* Horizontal abduction of the thigh at the hip joint

NOTES:

• The position of the thigh will determine whether the piriformis is a lateral or medial rotator of the thigh at the hip joint, as well as what actions must be created to stretch it (the thigh must be flexed to at least 60 degrees for the piriformis to become a medial rotator of the thigh) 


• If your student has a tight piriformis, when they sit cross-legged their knees will be really high (which is a reflection of the femurs not being able to laterally rotate to drop the knees toward the floor); they should avoid pigeon and anything lotus-related until they get a little more flexibility in the hips, as these postures can compress the medial meniscus if the femur doesn't laterally rotate enough


• The following yoga postures can safely stretch the piriformis (in all of them the thigh is flexed more than 60 degrees):  Thread the Needle pose, Flying Crow prep pose, Cross-Legged pose (folding forward),  Lizard pose (with the knee dropping out to the side) 


• The piriformis can protectively tighten when the sacroiliac joint is sprained or in distress 


• Piriformis syndrome is when a tight or inflamed piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve (which exits nearby) and can mimic sciatica (traveling pain down the lateral buttocks and posterior thigh/leg)   https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5731942054795182483#editor/target=post;postID=8326682167180580746