Strain-Counterstrain Treatment of Piriformis Pain

Summary

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

Detailed Description

There are two arms to the study: treatment and sham. The treatment group will receive strain-counterstrain for the piriformis muscle. The sham group will receive strain-counterstrain treatment for the hamstring muscle. There will be two treatments, 1-2 weeks apart ideally. Participants will fill out the Oswestry Disability Index Questionnaire before the first treatment and after the second treatment (which is 1-2 weeks after the first treatment). Participants will also identify pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after each treatment. Participants will identify pain at rest prior to treatment using VAS. Participant will then identify pain at the start of treatment while pressure is applied to the piriformis muscle (4.5kg/cm2) and post treatment while pressure is applied to the piriformis muscle (4.5 kg/cm2). An algometer will be used pre and post each treatment (2 treatments that are 1-2 weeks apart) to objectively measure any change in pain pressure threshold.

Eligibility Criteria

Interventions