Strain-Counterstrain Treatment of Piriformis Pain
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Strain-Counterstrain treatment of piriformis muscle.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Low Back Pain, Mechanical, Piriformis Syndrome, Somatic Dysfunction of Sacral Region (Finding). Basic parameters: 18 years — 65 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
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.
Interventions
- Other Strain-Counterstrain treatment of piriformis muscle
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 reass
Primary outcome measures
- Algometer - Change in pressure pain threshold [Time frame: Pre and post each treatment. There are 2 treatments, 1-2 weeks apart from one another.]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Change in Visual Analog Scale [Time frame: Pre and post each treatment. There are 2 treatments, 1-2 weeks apart from one another.]
- Change in Oswestry Disability Index [Time frame: Before first treatment and after second treatment. Each treatment is 1-2 weeks apart (anticipated).]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- 18 to 65 years of age
- Tender point (or trigger point) in piriformis muscle determined by physical exam
Exclusion criteria
- Less than 45 degrees of active hip flexion, less than 5 degrees of active hip internal rotation or less than 30 degrees of active hip external rotation, on side of affected piriformis
- Unable to lay prone
- Non-English speaker
- Inability to attend 2 sessions within the same month
- Active cancer
- Pregnant
- Diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy
- Greater than grade 1 lumbar spondylolisthesis
- Presence of lumbar region Pars Defect
- Receiving massage, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, osteopathic treatments during study period.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- Loma Linda University Health — Loma Linda
Identifiers
NCT: NCT05023005 · 5210286