Does piriformis muscle syndrome impair postural balance? A case control study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Orthopedics
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Musculoskeletal disorders can cause postural balance issues.
• The impact of piriformis muscle syndrome (PMS) on postural balance remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare static and dynamic postural balance in patients with PMS versus controls.
• To investigate potential contributing factors to balance deficits in PMS.

Main Methods:

• 12 patients with PMS and 12 controls were assessed.
• Static balance evaluated using symmetry index (SI) and Romberg index (RI).
• Dynamic balance assessed with the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT); pain, strength asymmetry (SA), and SF-36 quality of life were also measured.

Main Results:

• PMS patients exhibited significantly worse static and dynamic postural balance than controls.
• PMS group showed higher pain intensity, greater inter-limb strength asymmetry (SA), and poorer quality of life scores.
• Vision contribution to balance (RI) was also significantly higher in the PMS group.

Conclusions:

• Piriformis muscle syndrome is associated with impaired static and dynamic postural balance.
• Reduced quality of life in PMS patients may stem from balance deficits, pain, and strength asymmetry.
• Rehabilitation programs for PMS should incorporate strategies to address postural balance disorders.