What Are The Warning Signs And Causes Of Piriformis Syndrome?

Overuse Or Sprain Causing Inflammation

When an individual suffers muscle overuse or sprain causing inflammation, the result can be piriformis syndrome. Anyone who engages in regular physical activities can experience adverse effects from overuse of the muscles. When exercise becomes too much too soon for an individual's body, the small fibers in the muscles can experience what is called microtrauma or small tears. In addition, the overstretching or overextension of a muscle may cause the individual to experience a sprain, which occurs when the ligament that attaches a muscle to the bone becomes torn, twisted, or overstretched. Both a sprain and other microtrauma injuries from overuse will cause an immune response in the patient's body. The immune system responds to substances released by damaged cells. The blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow, fluid leaks into tissues to the site to isolate the injury, and white blood cells rush to the damaged tissues. The combination of all of these events is called inflammation. When the piriformis muscle incurs injury from overuse or experiences a sprain, the muscle itself and surrounding tissues swell up. This swelling can compress the sciatic nerve, resulting in piriformis syndrome.

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