Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: July | Volume: 7 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 134-142
Prevalence of Piriformis Tightness in Healthy Sedentary Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study
Malika Mondal1, Bibhuti Sarkar2, Sarfaraz Alam3, Shriya Das1, Komal Malik3, Pravin Kumar4, Pallavi Sahays5
1Professional Trainee, 2Demonstrator (PT), 3Senior Professional Trainee, 4Assistant Professor (PT), 5Physiotherapist,
Department of Physiotherapy, National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (Divynagjan), B.T. Road, Bonhoogly, Kolkata-700090, West Bengal, India.
Corresponding Author: Malika Mondal
ABSTRACT
Background: Pain in the lower back region is a common concern, affecting up to 90% of population at some point in their lifetime, up to 50% have more than one episode. Prolonged sitting position is the foremost cause of piriformis tightness in sedentary population that may eventually leads to piriformis syndrome and low back pain. Therefore, the present study was designed to identify the prevalence of piriformis tightness in sedentary individuals.
Methods: 200 subjects enrolled in this study were evaluated and screened on the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Tightness of piriformis muscle was assessed using piriformis stretch test and seated piriformis stretch clinical test.
Results: Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Piriformis tightness was found to be present in 159 subjects (79.5%). Prevalence of piriformis tightness was highest in third decade. However the prevalence of piriformis tightness in males and females was statistically insignificant.
Conclusion: In sedentary population the prevalence of piriformis tightness is very high and adult population has more chances to get affected with piriformis muscle tightness that can lead to development of piriformis syndrome and later on low back pain.
Key words: Piriformis muscle tightness, piriformis syndrome, sedentary individuals, piriformis stretch test.