Myofascial release for piriformis is an alternative therapeutic intervention that treats pain using sustained, gentle pressure on the buttocks and hip regions. Myofascial release therapy is a loosely defined system of practices that are geared towards relieving pain from a variety of soft tissue pathologies involving excessive tightness of muscular tissues due to fascial constriction. The system is thoroughly ingrained in complementary medical practice, but is not universally accepted by traditional medical practitioners, since the treatment does not meet scientific standards of efficacy from a medical viewpoint.
Regardless of how modern physicians view myofascial therapy, the system has grown extensively and is one of the main treatments used for battling piriformis pain and the related symptomology associated with piriformis syndrome. Patients are often taught self-care techniques involving myofascial release, allowing them to treat at home without cost or inconvenience.
This essay explores the use of myofascial release to treat piriformis symptoms in both professional and self-care applications.
What is Myofascial Release for Piriformis Pain?
Myofascial therapy is a form of bodywork that is often combined with other common treatments, including physical therapy, massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, acupressure, Rolfing, reiki and reflexology. The goal of treatment is to free constricted muscular tissues from binding fascia that is suffering the effects of injury or recurrent strain. After all, if a muscle is constricted in its movement, it will be limited in functionality and will suffer pain when mobilized.
Myofascial release is well known for helping to relieve tightness and functional deficiencies in muscular tissues. Whether this occurs due to actually releasing muscles from binding fascial constriction or for some other reason is not actually known. Evidence exists on both sides of the argument over why myofascial release might be effective, but to patients, this argument is irrelevant. The main point is that the therapy can be highly effectual and might help to bring relief to a wide range of soft tissue pain problems. Better yet, myofascial release is completely safe, nonpharmaceutical and might allow patients to end their dependence on more dangerous methods of care, such as drug or injection treatments.
There are many specialists who focus on myofascial therapy. Most of these experts work in the sports medicine and rehabilitation medicine sectors, but some are in general complementary practice, as well.
Professional Myofascial Release Therapy
Professionally applied myofascial release is usually more aggressive than self-managed care practices. When applied by an expert, the therapy can be directly delivered with maximum effectiveness into just the right locations of the anatomy, including the piriformis muscle, the other muscles of the lateral rotator group and the many tissues that reside in close proximity to the piriformis.
Professional therapy often involves direct manual pressure applied to the piriformis muscle, as well as the use of foam rollers and pressure point stimulation devices being utilized to increase the efficacy of treatment. Myofascial release is most often combined with other complementary care practices at the same time to further provide synergy of treatment and exponentially multiplied benefits to the patient. Combined use of multiple treatments might make each one more effective than each would normally be singularly. These practices include chiropractic adjustments, various types of massage, diathermy, cryotherapy, TENS, Rolfing sessions and other forms of treatment.
Self-Treatment Using Myofascial Release
Most patients are instructed on the home applications of myofascial release so that they can self-treat at home daily when professional care is not available. Patients will be given stretches and exercises that help to facilitate improved outcomes from self treatment. After performing these physical fitness activities, the patient will utilize their own hands to provide self manipulation of the tissue, as well as the addition of devices that can help to concentrate force into the piriformis muscle. Typically, tennis balls and various types of rollers can be used under the body to provide additional relief from fascial tissue attachments that can bind the muscle and create dysfunction.
Myofascial release can be very effective as a self-managed care practice, especially when combined with the use of heat and/or ice, self-massage, hydrotherapy and exercises for a complete routine of autonomous treatment that is safe, economical and very effective for pain reduction. We highly recommend that patients find ways of self-treating that can reduce the collateral burden of piriformis pain, without relying on pharmacological products or other risky modalities of self-care, such as the use of alcohol or illicit substances.
Piriformis Pain > Piriformis Treatment > Myofascial Release for Piriformis
