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Is the seated piriformis stretch complementary or redundant with the supine piriformis stretch?

3 min read

Asked by: Anthony Reynolds

What is seated piriformis stretch?

Start by sitting in a chair and cross your sore leg over the knee of your other leg. While keeping your spine straight, bend your chest forward. If you don’t feel pain, bend forward a little more. Hold this position for about 30 seconds. Repeat this stretch with your other leg.

What does supine piriformis stretch do?

If you do feel pinched you might need to stretch your hip flexors first if you get into this position.

How do you stretch your piriformis standing up?

2. Standing Piriformis Stretch

  1. While standing, place the leg that’s causing you pain over the knee of your other leg. …
  2. Lower your hips at a 45-degree angle until they reach the ground. …
  3. As you bend forward at the waist, reach your arms down to the ground while keeping your spine straight.
  4. Hold for 30-60 seconds.

Can you over stretch the piriformis muscle?

As with self-massage, stretching your piriformis regularly may also help loosen up the muscle and reduce your sciatica symptoms. Start slowly and be gentle. Stretching too far or too intensely could worsen your symptoms. As your symptoms start to ease, you can try to gently deepen the stretches.

How do you do a supine hamstring stretch?

Supine Hamstring Stretch

  1. Lie on the floor on your back, with both knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Put a towel around the back of your right thigh.
  2. Tighten your stomach muscles. …
  3. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds. …
  4. Repeat 2 to 3 times, or as instructed.
  5. Switch legs and repeat.


Does sitting cross legged stretch piriformis?

Findings: Cross-legged sitting resulted in a relative elongation of the piriformis muscle of 11.7% compared to normal sitting and even 21.4% compared to standing.

What is the action of the piriformis?

The piriformis muscle rotates the femur during the hip extension and abducts the femur during flexion of the hip. The abduction of the femur is critical during walking as it shifts the bodyweight to the opposite side, preventing one from falling.

What are the two types of stretches?

There are two main types of stretches: static stretches and dynamic stretches.

What is the origin and insertion of the piriformis?

The piriformis muscle originates at the internal surface of the sacrum and inserts at the superior border of the trochanter of the femur. It functions in helping lateral rotation of the hip joint, abducting the thigh when the hip is flexed, and assisting stability of the head of the femur in the acetabulum.

Which of these positions stretches the piriformis *?

Supine piriformis stretch.



Lie on the back with the legs flat. Bending the knee, pull the affected leg up toward the chest and hold behind the knee with one hand, grasping the ankle with the other hand. Leading with the ankle, pull the knee towards the opposite knee until a stretch is felt.

Which muscle is synergistic to the piriformis?

The piriformis is also a synergist for the gluteus maximus in extension of the hip.