Strain-Counterstrain Treatment of Piriformis Pain

Conditions

• Low Back Pain, Mechanical
• Piriformis Syndrome
• Somatic Dysfunction of Sacral Region (Finding)

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - 65 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Strain-Counterstrain treatment of piriformis muscle — OTHER
  Participant will lay prone on table with affected leg close to edge of table. Piriformis muscle tender point is identified and palpated. Then patient leg is passively moved off table and passive hip flexion, abduction, and possible internal/external rotation is added to reduce tender point by 70% or more. This is done passively. This position is held for 90 seconds and then participant is passively returned back to neutral prone position with leg on table. Tender point is palpated again to reassess for change in pain (using subjective visual analog scale). An algometer is also used pre and post to assess objective change in pressure pain threshold.

Study Details

The purpose of this investigator-initiated study is to provide an efficient and non-invasive treatment option for pain caused by the piriformis muscle.

Key Dates

Start date

Sep 30, 2026

Status verified

Apr 2026

Primary completion

Sep 30, 2027

Completion

Sep 30, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Experimental: Piriformis Strain-Counterstrain
  The treatment group will receive strain-counterstrain for the piriformis muscle.
• Sham Comparator: Hamstring Strain-Counterstrain
  The sham group will receive strain-counterstrain treatment for the hamstring muscle.

Primary Outcome Measure

Algometer - Change in pressure pain threshold [ Time Frame: Pre and post each treatment. There are 2 treatments, 1-2 weeks apart from one another. ]

Central Contacts

• Roya Vahdatinia, DO
  9095586202
  [email protected]
• Mickey Lui, DO
  9095586202
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

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