Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68175
VIEW THE DIGITAL EDITION AT MASSAGEANDBODYWORK.COM TO SEE A VIDEO CLIP DEMONSTRATING THIS TECHNIQUE. Piriformis tightness results from either excessive muscle contraction or excessive lengthening, so accurate postural assessment of the lower extremity is essential in planning treatment. In standing, excessive contraction of piriformis results in posterior pelvic tilt and external rotation of the hip. Excessive lengthening is associated with anterior pelvic tilt, hip adduction, and hip medial rotation. PALPATING PIRIFORMIS Positioning: client prone 1. Standing at the client's side facing the hip, locate the lateral edge of the sacrum with your fi ngertips. 2. Slide your fi ngertips laterally and distally toward the greater trochanter. (Caution: the sciatic nerve lies near the muscle belly of piriformis. To avoid compressing it, palpate following the oblique muscle fi bers.) 3. Palpate and follow the muscle fi bers as they converge and insert on the superior surface of the greater trochanter. 4. Gently resist external rotation of the hip to assure proper location. therapist, certifi ed athletic trainer, and certifi ed strength and conditioning specialist. Her private practice focuses on injury treatment, biomechanical analysis, craniosacral therapy, and massage for clients with neurological issues. She is the author of Functional Anatomy: Kinesiology and Palpation for Manual Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009). Contact her at functionalbook@hotmail.com. Christy Cael is a licensed massage Client Homework— Seated Piriformis Stretch 1. Sit with both legs together and straight out in front of you. 2. Bend your right hip and knee, bringing your knee toward your chest. 3. Cross your right leg over your left and place your right foot on the outside of your left leg. 4. Gently hug your right leg in toward your body until you feel a stretch deep in your right hip. Note: keep your back straight and bring the leg toward the body, not the body toward the leg. 5. Relax into the position by breathing slowly and deeply. 6. Repeat with the left leg. Editor's Note: The Client Homework element in Functional Anatomy is intended as a take-home resource for clients experiencing issues with the profi led muscle. The stretches identifi ed in Functional Anatomy should not be performed within massage sessions or progressed by massage therapists, in order to comply with state laws and maintain scope of practice. 86 massage & bodywork july/august 2010