Golf is a very physical sport; playing it for hours a day can result in various injuries. This article discusses the symptoms of piriformis syndrome, treatment options, and imaging studies to determine the extent of the condition. Listed below are some possible causes of piriformis syndrome and how to identify them. While golfing can cause piriformis syndrome, it is very rare.
Symptoms of piriformis syndrome
If you experience pain in the lower back, the sciatic nerve may be pinched by tight muscles in the piriformis muscle. When this happens, pressure on the sciatic nerve can lead to pain in the back, buttock, groin, or posterior thigh. Piriformis syndrome affects approximately 0.3 to 6 percent of people with sciatica. It affects approximately 2.4 million people each year.
Luckily, the condition is treatable. Lifestyle changes can alleviate the pain and help prevent permanent nerve damage. During recovery, patients are encouraged to avoid activities that can cause pain and restrict their mobility. To prevent the condition, it is important to exercise properly and warm up before physical activity. For exercise, avoiding running on hills and exercising on uneven surfaces can help. If you do suffer from piriformis syndrome, stop immediately and ice the affected area for 20 minutes.
Treatment options
Chiropractic care is one of the most effective treatments for piriformis syndrome. It uses manual manipulation to loosen muscles surrounding the affected area, promote healing, and increase blood flow. Using chiropractic care can help avoid further injury and maximize recovery. However, this method can cause some side effects, so it is best to seek the advice of a doctor before using it. Here are some other treatment options for piriformis syndrome.
Medical management can include steroid injections and physical therapy. MRIs may be required to rule out other causes of sciatic nerve compression in the spine. Patients may also undergo steroid injections to reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, Botox injections can be used to relax muscles contracted due to pain. Botox is only effective for a short period of time and wears off with time. Surgical treatment for piriformis syndrome may include surgical intervention to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Imaging studies
Imaging studies of piriformis syndrome may reveal muscle hypertrophy and diffuse edema on T-1 and T-2 weighted images. There is also evidence of a signal change within the gluteus maximus and atrophy of the muscle. The images of PS should include fat-suppressed (STIR) and T-1 images in both axial and coronal planes.
In patients with a piriformis syndrome diagnosis, imaging findings vary from patient to patient. Conventional radiographs of the pelvis and spine, MRIs of the lumbar spine, and electromyography were all unremarkable. In addition, the patient underwent a diagnostic trigger point injection to identify a possible underlying cause of the symptoms. In addition, piriformis syndrome is commonly accompanied by lower back pain and radicular symptoms.
Can Custom Golf Club Fitting Help Piriformis Syndrome?
Maybe… Having golf clubs that are correctly fitted to you and your body will help to ensure that no unnecessary stress is going to occur that can be avoided. Getting your golf clubs custom fitted will not guarantee that it will help or stop Piriformis syndrome, but doing anything that can help reduce those chances is worth doing. This will allow you to play the game you love for longer whilst minimizing the risk of piriformis or any other injury that may happen due to poorly fitted clubs.
At SwingFit we make sure that your clubs are fitted perfectly to you and your body capabilities rather than just a generic, run-of-the-mill club that can strain you in unknown ways.
Get in touch today and book your fitting!
