Are You Overstretched? For Hip, Buttock, And Piriformis Pain- Stop Stretching And Start Strengthening
If you've ever experienced a pain in the butt- you may have searched around (or been told) that it could be a back issue, hip issue, or piriformis syndrome... and so, I wanted to touch on piriformis syndrome and highlight a trap in the treatment of piriformis syndrome that you could be falling into. This mistake often leads to little progress and prolonged suffering from buttock pain or sciatica...
The single biggest mistake I see people with buttock pain and supposed "piriformis" syndrome is stretching not strengthening...
People in this type of pain are trying to "stretch" their pain away...
They go to yoga, do their own stretches, and think that stretching is the answer to every bodily ache or pain. People are doing "hip openers" and "opening up their chest" or being told to "pull their shoulder blades down and back." And, while there is nothing wrong with stretching, it's making many of their problems worse (rather than better). I've recently told 5 people (in the past week) to stop stretching (like stop stretching COLD TURKEY... just cut it out all together)...
I told them to "STIFFEN UP" instead... and guess what...
Suddenly, their pain started to go away... and instead of stretching (making things longer/more flexible) we began to make things shorter by contracting muscles and strengthening things up.
You might be thinking to yourself- What? That's totally odd and against what everyone else has told me.Think about it- the chiro cracks your back, the massage therapist works out your knots, yoga twists you up, acupuncture releases your trigger points- all with the goal of getting you to loosen up- or MOVE MORE.
I'll be the first to say... sometimes you just need to MOVE LESS and be more stiff (less mobile)...
A youtube video I created last year is causing a total ruckus on youtube by talking about this concept... and has helped hundreds of people who have been stretching the heck out of their lower back and hips to finally feel relief...
Click the video below to watch.
FYI- this concept applies to people who have chronic neck and shoulder pain and have been "stretching things out" or seeing the chiro and massage therapist for years without relief.
Applied correctly to the right person- this idea can work for any body region where things "feel tight"... and stretching only gives temporary feel-good relief...
And so, if you're in pain and have been "stretching things out" with little to no long term relief then consider that stretching is not the solution... In fact, I say- rock the boat and do the opposite- stiffen up.
Comment below if you're searching for physical therapy in Royersford, Collegeville, Limerick, or Phoenixville, PA and are dealing with any form of pain that has NOT been relieved by "stretching" things out.
Dr. Charlie