What this study is
The purpose of this investigator-initiated study is to provide an efficient and non-invasive treatment option for pain caused by the piriformis muscle.
What's being tested
- Strain-Counterstrain treatment of piriformis muscle
Intervention · OTHER
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 reassess for change in pain (using subjective visual analog scale). An algometer is also used pre and post to assess objective change in pressure pain threshold.
Study details
- Sponsor
- Loma Linda University
- Conditions
- Low Back Pain, Mechanical · Piriformis Syndrome · Somatic Dysfunction of Sacral Region (Finding)
- Enrolling
- 30 people
- Starts
- 2026-09
- Est. completion
- 2027-09
- Design
- Double-blind, randomized, parallel groups
- Record
- View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Who can join
Age 18 Years – 65 YearsSex ALLHealthy volunteers AcceptedYou may qualify if
- 18 to 65 years of age
- Tender point (or trigger point) in piriformis muscle determined by physical exam
You can't join if
- 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.
Sign in and we'll check these against your records.Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Study locations (1)
1 openLoma Linda University Health
Loma Linda, California, United States
- Mickey Lui, MD · Contact909-558-1000
Recruiting
Study team
Sponsor
Loma Linda University
Study ID 5210286
Principal investigator
Mickey Lui
Loma Linda University Health
Frequently asked questions
The sponsor hasn't published answers to common questions for this trial.