The piriformis is a muscle in the buttock region that crosses the hip joint. When contracted, it primarily rotates the hip outward; like a hockey player pushing off his or her skate to glide forward. When the larger muscles of the buttocks are weak or injured, the piriformis tries to take over and, as a result, gets very tight. The tension in the piriformis causes pain, discomfort and associated injuries, such as sciatica. Acupuncture treatments work to release the tight spasms in the muscle, thereby relieving the pain and treating related injuries.
Considerations
Acupuncture is an effective treatment for piriformis-related injuries, although there are contraindications for its use. Acupuncture is not recommended if you have recently had surgery, or have any bacterial infections or blood-clotting disorders. Generally, infants, children and pregnant women are denied treatment. Because acupuncture breaks the skin, extra precautions are taken by practitioners to ensure the safety of the patient.
How It Works
When you receive acupuncture treatment for the piriformis you lie on a table, on your stomach. Sterile needles, made of stainless steel, are inserted at varying depths and places. The practitioner sterilizes the skin surface prior to treatment. You might feel a slight sting when the needles are inserted; you might not feel the insertion at all. Practitioners use ancient patterns, called meridians, to identify where they insert the needles. The body's nervous system responds to the needles with a numbing effect, after they have been in position for 5 to 20 minutes.
Treatment Details
Once the practitioner has placed all the needles, they will remain in your skin for 40 minutes. Try to relax, as it will help the effectiveness of the treatment. One full course of treatment for the piriformis is 10 sessions, over a 10-day period. If you are referred for a second course of treatment, a five day resting period is required.
Treatment Benefits
Overall, acupuncture treatments start between $100 and $300 for the initial assessment, followed by a cost of $70 to $125 for subsequent visits, as of August 2011. Acupuncture may reduce pain caused by muscle injuries and disorders. In addition, acupuncture is easily accessible in the United States, as it has become a common therapeutic practice; however, check your health insurance policy -- some plans allow a certain number of visits per year while others don't cover acupuncture treatments at all. Speak to your physician about a local acupuncturist in your area.
References
- "Color Atlas of Acupuncture"; Hans-Ulrich Hecker, et al.; 2008
- "Handbook of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Conditions"; Lu Shaojie; 2002
- "The Acupuncture Treatment of Pain"; Leon Chaitow; 1990
- "Medical Acupuncture in Pregnancy"; Ansgar T. Roemer; 2005
- "Acupuncture for Musculoskeletal Medicine"; Grant Cooper, et al.; 2009
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