Piriformis muscle is located deep in the buttock and helps to rotate the leg outwards.
The commonest cause of sciatica is the irritation of the nerves in or near the spine. PS represents an extra spinal cause where the site of nerve irritation lies outside the spine although the symptoms are similar. Correct diagnosis helps to offer targeted treatment and increases the probability of a successful outcome. Another nearby muscle (obturator internus) can cause similar symptoms and this needs to be differentiated from the PS.















