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Brief tutorial on
Facilitated Stretching
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Featured Stretch
Piriformis
Anatomy
The piriformis is one of six deep lateral hip rotators, all of
which insert on some portion of the greater trochanter. When these
muscles are hypertonic, they contribute to a toe-out gait, commonly
seen in dancers, and they restrict internal rotation of the
hip. Stretching the piriformis also stretches the other lateral
rotators.
Piriformis Stretch, With a Partner
This stretch is used to improve medial rotation of the femur. You
may have to experiment a little with the starting position of this
stretch because each stretcher will feel the muscle stretch in a
different position.
- The stretcher is supine, with his left hip and knee flexed to 90
degrees and drawn up toward the right shoulder; the right leg rests on
the table. Be sure the stretcher keeps his sacrum on the table to
anchor the origin of the piriformis. The stretcher then rotates his
left thigh laterally by bringing his left foot closer to his right
shoulder while maintaining flexion at the hip.
- Place one hand on the stretcher's lateral knee and the other at
his lateral ankle to passively assist him in finding the leg position
that begins to stretch the piriformis. Be sure the stretcher keeps his
sacrum on the table. From this starting position, offer resistance to
the isometric contraction.
- Direct the stretcher to begin slowly to attempt to push his leg
toward you diagonally (with equal pressure at both the knee and
ankle), isometrically contracting the piriformis for 6 seconds.
- After the isometric push, the stretcher relaxes and inhales
deeply. As he relaxes, maintain the leg in the starting position.
- As he exhales, he contracts his hip flexors and adductors to
deepen the piriformis stretch. You may assist by gently pushing to
assist hip flexion and adduction, then by adding more lateral rotation
to deepen the stretch.
- Repeat two to three times.
Piriformis Self-Stretch, Sitting
- Sit at the edge of a chair and cross your right ankle over your
left knee. Keeping your spine lengthened, bend at the hips (no
stooping) until you feel a stretch deep in the buttocks. Many people
experience pain when they try to do this because they are
overstretching. Stretch only in the "feels-good" range, and not into
discomfort.
- From this starting position, push your right ankle into your left
thigh, isometrically contracting the piriformis, for 6 seconds. It may
also feel good to push against the inside of your right knee with your
right hand. After the isometric push, relax and inhale deeply.
- As you exhale, sit up tall and bend forward from the hips to
deepen the piriformis stretch. Repeat two to three times.
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