Trigger Point Tools for Piriformis Pain

Piriformis massage

Trigger points in the piriformis muscle can cause intense pain that make standing, walking, sitting, running and turning painful. Using tools that can apply a "deep stroking massage"is the safest and most effective method of treating these trigger points, according to "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook." Effective treatment of piriformis trigger points can eliminate pain and dysfunction, normally without surgery or medications.

About

The piriformis muscle is a muscle in the buttocks that runs from the spine to the top of the femur bone in the leg. The piriformis muscle rotates the leg outward or turns the body in the opposite direction. Trigger points in the piriformis muscle can create pain at the base of the spine, in the buttocks, the hip and the upper hamstrings. They can also shorten the piriformis and cause compression of the sciatic nerve, which creates burning, numbness, tingling and pain down the leg.

Balls

Several types of balls can be used to provide the deep stroking massage that effectively treats trigger points: a tennis ball, a lacrosse ball, a super ball or even a larger, high-bounce ball. These balls can be placed between the muscle and a wall or floor, and then the body weight can be leveraged or moved over the ball to create the massage strokes.

Massage Sticks

Several brands of massage sticks can also be used on this muscle. These are strong and made of hard plastic and curved to reach the back of the body. They may have hard, knobby points on them to use for isolating trigger points. The piriformis muscle can also be massaged using a stick tool while lying in bed with the knee bent up.

Partners

A partner can use his thumbs to press on the piriformis trigger point. This will provide compression that forces the blood out of the trigger point, which allows fresh blood to flow in on release.

A partner can also use an elbow or or a stick tool or handheld knobby tool to provide the recommended deep stroking massage.

Techniques

Repeated therapy over several days and weeks will be much more effective than one single massage session. "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook" recommends six to 12 strokes in one session and six to 12 sessions each day for days, weeks or until complete relief is felt. Trigger points can come back and can be retreated in the same way.

Tool Purposes

There are two major purposes of these types of tools. One is to save your hands or the massager's hands from developing pain from performing the repeated massage. The other is to provide leverage in a way that allows the deep compression or stroking required to break up the trigger point. Some sort of a tool is necessary for you to actually reach your own piriformis with enough power to effectively massage it.

References

• University of Washington Department of Radiology
• "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook"; Clair Davies; 2004
• Livestrong: Trigger Points: Piriformis