The sciatic nerve is the nerve that supplies the back of the leg. Piriformis is a muscle deep in the gluteal area. The sciatic nerve runs through or just below the piriformis muscle. Piriformis syndorme occurs when the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed by the piriformis muscle. Symptoms include pain, tingling, pins and needles, numbness etc down the back of the thigh, sometimes the leg and occasionally into the foot.

This can occur for a number of reasons including sports involving sprinting, excessive sitting, pregnancy etc.

Treatment of sciatica/ piriformis syndrome can involve a combination of massage techniques, joint mobilisations, exercise programmes including stretching and foam rolling, acupuncture and dry needling, and posture and biomechanical correction.