Piriformis Syndrome affects a muscle in your hip called the Piriformis. The piriformis is a muscle located on the back of your hip that helps with movements of hip rotation, abduction (leg out to the side), and extension of your hip. This muscle is special in that it lies close to the sciatic nerve on the back of the leg. In fact, the sciatic nerve runs through the muscle in some people. When the piriformis is injured or too tight, this muscle can lead to sciatic-type symptoms including pain referral into the leg, numbness, and tingling. This muscle can be injured by trauma (for example landing on your buttock), compression (for example sitting for a long time on a hard surface or sitting on your wallet), repetitive overuse such as sports training or running, abnormal gait such as walking with your foot turned outward, following an injury to your low back or hip, or a shortening of the muscle due to the posture of your low back and hips. Your therapist will assess the area and create a custom treatment plan for your Piriformis Syndrome to address your concerns and get you on the road to recovery.