Impairment: 

Piriformis Syndrome    Intervention: STM- Trigger Point release   

  Intensity/Progression: low

Mock client (age/gender): Female, age 40

Brief Description: Patient will be lying prone on the table while the
PT palpates the piriformis muscle. PT will use their elbow in order
to push down into the piriformis muscle and hold for 1 minute and
then release.

Dosage: Typically. 30-90 second trigger point holds, but can be

patient dependent on when the tension subsides or becomes
unbearable.

Brief Rationale: Trigger point release will cause compression on the

piriformis muscle when the PT is pushing down on it, which will
help alleviate the patient's pain when the PT releases the pressure
on the piriformis. 

Reference:

Benjamin PJ, Tappan FM. Tappan's Handbook of Massage Therapy:

Blending Art with Science. Boston: Pearson; 2016.

Group Member Names:  Sydney Zuke and Amber Schoenicke

 Impairment: Piriformis Syndrome Intervention: Self-Stretch Intensity/Progression:
Moderate

Mock client (age/gender):  Male, 35

Brief Description: Patient Will be seated with leg that the symptoms
are on with foot planted on the ground. Cross the other leg on top
of the planted leg so that it is abducted, internally rotated and
knee is flexed. The patient will then be instructed to push with their
hand on the knee that is cross in a downward motion, while flexing
the trunk forward just a little bit in order to feel the stretch. Then
hold the stretch and then release.  

Dosage: 3 sets x 30 seconds

Brief Rationale: This helps create a stretch on the piriformis muscle

allowing it to be lengthened which will help to also relieve some
pressure on the sciatic nerve if that is causing pain as well. 

Reference:

HEP2GO website. www.hep2go.com Published 2022. Accessed March

29, 2022.

Group Member Names: Sydney Zuke and Amber Schoenicke 

 Impairment: Piriformis Syndrome Intervention: Strengthening Exercise of gluteal muscles
Intensity/Progression: High

Mock client (age/gender):  Female, 28

Brief Description: Patient will start in standing position, then will

perform a single leg squat and briefly touch the chair will their
buttock and then stand up on the same limb in order to return to
starting position while maintaining their balance.

Dosage: 25 reps x 3 sets

Brief Rationale: Piriformis syndrome may be present because of hip

extensor and abductor weakness; this may be the cause of sciatic
nerve compression. The dosage is targeted at increasing strength
and endurance of the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius.
Strengthening the hip extensors and abductors will relieve and
reduce the use of the piriformis. Additionally, to increase intensity,
add an unstable surface under the patient's foot.  

Reference:

Kisner, C, Colby, LA, Borstad J. Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and

Techniques. (7th ed.), Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis; 2018.

Tonley JC, Yun SM, Kochevar RJ, Dye JA, Farrokhi S, Powers CM.
Treatment of an individual with piriformis syndrome focusing on hip
muscle strengthening and movement reeducation: A case report.
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy .
2010;40(2):103-111. doi:10.2519/jospt.2010.3108 

Group Member Names: Sydney Zuke and Amber Schoenicke