Personally, though I use the first stretch, I dont feel it stretches the
piriformis at all. I think to stretch the piriformis, its origin must stay
fixed and thus the sacrum must stay on the ground. I think this may stretch
some of the medial/lateral rotaters of the femur. I do use the other to
stretch piriformis in addition to other adduction flexion stretches. Also
one must remember that the piriformis will perform different motions of femur
depending on what range of motion the femur is in. I'm a little tired I hope
this makes sense.
I also use a mobilization stretch in prone with contract relax or M/E
technigues with hip IR/ER and adduction abduction of the femur depending on
the lesion.
Julie Baclene PT ATC
Can anyone help me solve this dilemma?
I have read lots of conflicting evidence in how to stretch the piriformis
muscle.
Here are 2 different stretches one that uses medial rotation and the other
uses lateral rotation.
Stretching to RIGHT piriformis
1. Lie on your back. Bend your knees and cross your right leg over so your
right ankle rests on your left knee. Now, bring your left leg towards your
chest by bending at the hip. Reach through and grab your left thigh and
help
pull towards your chest.
2. Lie on your back, and flex the right hip and the right knee. Now, while
grasping the right knee with your left hand, pull the knee towards your left
shoulder. This flexes and adducts the hip. In this position, grasp above
the right ankle with the right hand, and rotate the ankle outwards. This
applies medial rotation.
Theoretically you would think it's the medially rotated one, as piriformis
is
a lateral rotator of the hip. But all my colleagues use the lateral
rotation
one, and I myself have better results when using the lateral rotation
stretch.
Does anyone have an explanation for this? Are different structures being
stretched in lat rot. or is it due to the direction of the fibres??
Thanks
Tamsin Emmens >>
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