Assess & Address: Piriformis Syndrome by Whitney Lowe

Pathology Assessment & Evaluation Treatment Massage Techniques

References
1. Barton, P.M. "Piriformis syndrome: a rational approach to management," Pain, 47:345-352, 1991.

2. Benson, E.R.; Schutzer, S.F. "Posttraumatic piriformis syndrome: Diagnosis and results of operative treatment," J Bone Joint Surg Amer, Vol. 81A: 941-949, 1999.

3. Dawson, D.; Hallett, M.; Wilbourn, A. Entrapment Neuropathies, third edition, Lippincott-Raven, 1999.

4. Fishman, L.M.; Dombi, G.W.; Michaelsen, C.; Ringel, S.; Rozbruch, J.; Rosner, B.; and Weber, C. "Piriformis syndrome: diagnosis, treatment, and outcome—a 10-year study," Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 83:295-301, 2002.

5. Jensen, M.C.; Brant-Zawadzki, M.N.; Obuchowski, N.; Modic, M.T.; Malkasian, D.; and Ross, J. S. "Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain," N Engl J Med, 331:69-73, 1994.

6. Levin, S.M. "Piriformis syndrome," Orthopedics, 23:183-184, 2000.

7. Magee, D. Orthopedic Physical Assessment, third edition, W.B. Saunders, 1997.

8. Travell, J., Simons, D. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, Williams & Wilkins, 1992.

Whitney Lowe is the director of the Orthopedic Massage Education & Research Institute (OMERI) in Bend, Oregon. He is the author of Functional Assessment in Massage Therapy and Orthopedic Massage: Theory and Technique. He researches and authors articles on using massage to treat pain and injury conditions in national journals and in his bimonthly research newsletter, Orthopedic & Sports Massage Reviews. He has written for MASSAGE Magazine on the topic of "Thoracic Outlet Syndrome."