Open AccessAssessment of Piriformis Tightness in Third Trimester of Pregnancy - A Prevalence Study
Author(s) -
Priyanka Rathod,
Payal Dhawale,
Goutami Katage
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international journal of health sciences and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2249-9571
DOI - 10.52403/ijhsr.20220309
Subject(s) - medicine , piriformis syndrome , pregnancy , low back pain , gestation , obstetrics , surgery , sciatica , pathology , genetics , alternative medicine , biology
Background: Gestational pain in the lower back region is a common concern, affecting up to 50% of pregnant women at some point in their gestation. Prolonged sitting position, biomechanical changes during pregnancy are the foremost cause of piriformis tightness in female that may eventually leads to piriformis syndrome and low back pain. Therefore, the present study was designed to identify the prevalence of piriformis tightness in pregnant females.Methods: 93 subjects enrolled in this study were evaluated and screened on the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Tightness of piriformis muscle was assessed using piriformis test & the limited ROM of hip due to tightness of piriformis muscle by using goniometer.Results: Data was analyzed using graph pad prism software. Piriformis tightness was found to be present in 27 subjects (29%). Prevalence of piriformis tightness was less in third trimester of pregnancy. However, the prevalence of piriformis tightness in females was statistically significant.Conclusion: Prevalence of piriformis muscle tightness in pregnant women of third trimester was very less in this study which concludes that females who were in third trimester of pregnancy not having piriformis tightness because of relaxin hormone which relaxes all the muscle for the normal growth of fetus.Key words: Gestational low back pain, Piriformis muscle tightness, Piriformis syndrome, Pregnancy, Third trimester.