Recruiting

Piriformis Treatment

Sponsor:

Loma Linda University

Code:

NCT05023005

Conditions

Low Back Pain, Mechanical

Piriformis Syndrome

Somatic Dysfunction of Sacral Region (Finding)

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Strain-Counterstrain treatment of piriformis muscle

Study Details

Brief summary:

The purpose of this investigator-initiated study is to provide an efficient and non-invasive treatment option for pain caused by the piriformis muscle.

Conditions

Low Back Pain, Mechanical

Piriformis Syndrome

Somatic Dysfunction of Sacral Region (Finding)

Study ID

NCT05023005

Start date

Sep, 2026

Status verified date

Apr, 2026

Completion date

Sep, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Sep, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 to 65 years of age
  • Tender point (or trigger point) in piriformis muscle determined by physical exam

Exclusion criteria:

  • 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.

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Piriformis Strain-Counterstrain

The treatment group will receive strain-counterstrain for the piriformis muscle.

sham comparator: Hamstring Strain-Counterstrain

The sham group will receive strain-counterstrain treatment for the hamstring muscle.

Interventions

Strain-Counterstrain treatment of piriformis muscle

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.

Primary outcome measure

  • Algometer - Change in pressure pain threshold [ Time Frame: Pre and post each treatment. There are 2 treatments, 1-2 weeks apart from one another. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Roya Vahdatinia, DO

9095586202rvahdatinia@llu.edu

Mickey Lui, DO

9095586202Mickey.Lui@va.gov

Locations

Loma Linda University Health

Recruiting

Loma Linda, California, United States, 92350

Contacts

Mickey Lui, MD

909-558-1000

More Information

Sponsor

Loma Linda University

Last update posted

Apr 24, 2026

Last verified

Apr, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Loma Linda University on 2026-04-24.