Hip and lower back pain can sometimes be a result of an irritation of the sciatic nerve. Many people suffer from lower back pain that spreads downward to the limbs and feet, but this pain is regularly alleviated by practicing a deep piriformis stretch – a stretch that releases tight piriformis muscles, and relaxes the sciatic nerve.
What Is The Piriformis muscle?
The piriformis muscle connects the spine to the top of the femur, and is one of the main muscles involved in outward movements of the hip, upper leg and foot from the body. The sciatic nerve usually passes beneath the piriformis muscle, which is located behind the gluteus maximus. However for some individuals the sciatic nerve passes through the muscle, which can lead to sciatica symptoms caused by a condition known as piriformis syndrome.
The foremost cause of sciatica is constriction, swelling and tension in the piriformis muscle which can be a result of injury, spasm or inactivity.
Lower back pain caused by an impinged piriformis muscle accounts for 6-8% of those experiencing back pain.
For serious cases of lower back pain, it’s always recommended to consult your doctor and seek their advice.
It is estimated that 40% of people will likely experience sciatica or an irritation of the sciatic nerve at some point in their lives. All the more reason to learn some useful and natural stretches to help the body feel good and alleviate any discomfort!
