Effectiveness of Sciatic Nerve Gliding with Hip Abductor Muscle Strengthening in Software Professionals Suffering from Piriformis Syndrome

Background: Piriformis syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder where the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated by the inflammation of piriformis muscle representing pain, tingling and numbness in the buttock region and in the course of sciatic nerve. Piriformis syndrome can be painful, but it is very rarely alarming and needs surgical interventions. It can be managed effectively by conservative means such as NSAIDS, analgesics and physiotherapy interventions like stretching, electro therapeutic modalities, myofascial release, thermo therapies, etc. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of sciatic nerve gliding exercise with hip abductor strengthening exercises versus piriformis stretching exercises in software professionals who are sitting for prolong hours in office and diagnosed with piriformis syndrome. Materials & Methods: 30 patients with piriformis syndrome, reporting at the OPD of Physiotherapy Department were evaluated according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were divided into Group A (experimental) N=15, Group B (control) N=15 randomly. Their baseline data with respect to age, sex, pain in VAS, hip internal rotation range by goniometer, and disability evaluation by MODQ were taken on day 1 of the treatment and day 15 of the treatment. Data analysis was done by Mann Whitney ‘u’ test for subjective data and unpaired ‘t’ test for objective data analysis with 95%confidence interval. Results: The patients treated with sciatic nerve sliding exercise and abductor strengthening (Group A) showed statistically significant decrease in pain (p=0.00), increase in range of motion for hip internal rotation (p=0.00) and decrease in disability level according to MODQ (p=0.00) after 15 days of interventions as compared to Group B who were treated by piriformis stretching exercises. Conclusion: This study has shown significant improvement in the experimental group (group A) in respect to pain relief, hip internal rotation range of motion, and .......