At the lower border of the piriformis muscle, the nerve turns backward and divides into upward and downward diverging branches, which enter the gluteus maximus.
In those with sciatica due to piriformis syndrome, botulism toxin injections may improve pain and or function.
Other stretches like piriformis stretch, and hands to feet stretch, can relieve stress off the muscles around the coccyx, after sitting for a long time.
The biomechanical relationship between the sacroiliac joint, the piriformis muscle (see piriformis syndrome), and the sciatic nerve had not yet been discovered.
The piriformis laterally rotates the femur with hip extension and abducts the femur with hip flexion.
However, compression may be present, but not causal, in the setting of sciatica due to piriformis syndrome.
Common causes of sciatica include the following lower back and hip conditions: spinal disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and piriformis syndrome.
In 15% of the population, the sciatic nerve runs through, or under the piriformis muscle rather than beneath it.
