Piriformis Syndrome

[rshoffer]

I cross-train with running (4 miles 3-4 times a week), erg rowing (6-7 K 3-4 times a week) and bodybuilding (2 times a week on a circuit). I have developed SEVERE localized sciatic pain in my right glute. It does not radiate. here's the question. Are there any "only rowers" out there who have developed piriformis syndrome from rowing. I don't know whether to blame the rowing, running or both. I'm a 58 yo male.

[mecadra]

I am a 55 year old male, just recovering from pyriformis syndrome. I was a runner, until knees gave me problems. Initially I was diagnosed with Trochanteric Bursitis, which did not respond to steroid injections and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Currently I am responding best to Pilates exercises given on a Pilates Reformer, twice a week with emphasis on pyiformis stretches each session. I have recently had three sessions of acupuncture with electrical stimulation given by a physician. These have given symptomatic relief lasting about a week each time. The physician thinks that my best chance for a long term cure lies in the Pilates and daily pyriformis stretches along with exercising the other hip stabilizers, abductors, and adductors and rotators. He does not think that my rowing is the primary cause of the problem.

Hope this helps.

[mainframer]

I'm 54 and cross-train with treadmill, climbers (step mill, stairmaster), recumbent bike, and elliptical machines, and circuit-train on weight machines 3-4 times per week, and attend two yoga classes per week. I row 25 minutes at a time and started rowing in 1993.

I just learned about Pyriformis Syndrome about 10 days ago. Maybe I'm being a hypochondriac, but I think I've had bouts of it from 2-3 days to 2 weeks in duration over the past few years.

I think it can be triggered by carrying loads (backpack, heavy gym bag), by going too far with certain yoga twisting postures, and most recently the gym's ERG (model C) having its front support leg extremely loose (floor vibrations could be easily felt when ERG in use - 1 of the 4 screws was completely unattached) - so that there was considerable horizontal movement while pulling. We're not supposed to fix the equipment ourselves, but I smuggled-in an allen wrench and took care of the support leg problem a couple of days ago - I'm already feeling about 90% better.

I read the information at easyvigour.net.nz/fitness/h_gluteus_max_piriformis.htm and am now being very careful not to overextend during yoga twists.

This recent bout was notable for being worse in the buttocks than in the back, and for being my first occurrence in about 14 months. Like my doctor says, strengthening the core muscles is a good preventative. I actually believe that rowing generally strenthens the pyriformis-related muscles so that recovery would be faster for rowers. However, I am sure that technique and individual physical variations make the syndrome more problematic for some of us.

[Citroen]

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Ah someone else from the land of Dinosaurware. I'm a mainframe database specialist for your favourite Armonk, NY based hardware/software supplied.

[bloomp]

ahhh now i know the name for the pain i had to fix...

for me it happened mostly in the boat, then i realized if i keep my knees closer together on the recovery it'd go away a lot. on the erg it kept happening, so i figured out that stretching helps a lot.... really anything that stretches the hamstrings out will help, but the two best stretches involve crossing your leg across the body and other leg and hugging it tight and the other is more complicated and you lay on your back, place one foot on the other knee and pull with one hand on the back of that knee, while using your elbow to prop your bent leg in place (feels amazing, first time i tried it i giggle like a girl)

[Dreadnought]

I cross-train with running (4 miles 3-4 times a week), erg rowing (6-7 K 3-4 times a week) and bodybuilding (2 times a week on a circuit). I have developed SEVERE localized sciatic pain in my right glute. It does not radiate. here's the question. Are there any "only rowers" out there who have developed piriformis syndrome from rowing. I don't know whether to blame the rowing, running or both. I'm a 58 yo male.

I recently developed a mild case of pyriformis syndrome after doing a lot of steep uphill running. It was OK if I kept the incline less than 6%. I thought that I should avoid the rower since that would close the hip angle like uphill running, but I tried it today after a long layoff.

I did 1000m intervals at an avg pace of 1:50- 1:51 (approx 260w) and I found no pain at all in the glute.

I gues the hips are ina more stable position when on the rower than when you are running. Both legs go up and down simultaneously instead of an alternating balancing act .

[mainframer]

A couple of months ago, on merely coughing one morning, I had a spasm that caused acute piriformis syndrome pain for a few weeks.

I found one ridiculously simple stretch that has miraculously relieved the pain for the past several days - supta pawanmuktasana is the Sanskrit name for the yoga version of it, and you can find it via Internet search. I can tell that it's working because I can sleep on my stomach and wake up pain-free.

[Mattlikespeoples]

The stretch most of you guys are referring to is a figure 4. This is just about the best for piriformis. Along with that one you need to stretch your hamstrings, glutes, IT bands, quads and hip flexors as well. Along with stretching you can use a tennis ball and lay on that and put it where it hurts, roll around and massage it.
perfect link for all of those
http://exercise.about.com/cs/flexibilit ... tretch.htm

[energi]

Running caused my severe and chronic piriformis issues. I can't run at all anymore without a flareup, but I can row as long as I'm vigilant about my stretching afterward.

The thing that keeps this injury from coming back for me is using a travel roller - it's like a foam roller but it's really hard. I stretch into that and it really digs into those deep muscles. Have been using this every time I row and it keeps piriformis at bay.

http://www.travelroller.com/