{"id":11415,"date":"2022-08-11T12:01:32","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T10:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/?post_type=wiki&p=11415"},"modified":"2022-08-11T12:01:32","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T10:01:32","slug":"active-piriformis-test","status":"publish","type":"wiki","link":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wiki\/active-piriformis-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Active Piriformis Test"},"featured_media":11416,"template":"","class_list":["post-11415","wiki","type-wiki","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"page-header-detail-page","background":{"background_image":11416,"background_image_alt_text":"Active Piriformis Test"},"heading":"Active Piriformis Test | Piriformis Syndrome","subheading":"Hip Assessment","content_editor":"","button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Check our shop","button_style":"button-five","button_internal_link":4646,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":"","label":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"submenu","links":[{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Learn","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-3","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Assessment E-Book","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-4","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Reviews","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-5","button_url":"","button_file":null}],"dropdown_label":"Go to","button_right":{"button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Become a member","button_style":"button-three","button_internal_link":16662,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":""},"button_description":"Find this wiki on the Physiotutors platform"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content-content","section_options":{"vertical_alignment":"top","column_right_box":false,"column_left_width":"col-12 col-lg-4 offset"},"column_left":{"content_editor":"

Learn<\/h4>"},"column_right":{"content_editor":"

Active Piriformis Test | Piriformis Syndrome | Deep Gluteal Syndrome of the Hip<\/h2>\nDeep gluteal syndrome, abbreviated as DGS is defined as pain in the buttock area caused by a non-discogenic entrapment of the sciatic nerve in the subgluteal space.\n\nThe structures that can be involved in sciatic nerve entrapment are not only the piriformis but also fibrous bands containing blood vessels, gluteal muscles, hamstring muscles, the gemelli-obturator internus complex, vascular abnormalities and space-occupying lesions. For this reason, the term \u201cdeep gluteal syndrome\u201d instead of \u201cpirformis syndrome\u201d is now preferred.\n\nCommonly reported symptoms include hip or buttock pain and tenderness in the gluteal and retro-trochanteric region. The pain is often described to be sciatica-like, often unilateral and exacerbated with rotation of the hip in flexion and knee extension. Other symptoms include intolerance of sitting for more than 20 to 30 minutes, limping, disturbed or loss of sensation in the affected extremity and pain at night getting better during the day.\n\nAccording to a study done by Martin et al. (2013)<\/a>, the active piriformis test had a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 80% in the diagnosis of endoscopically confirmed sciatic nerve entrapment. This is the only study evaluating this test yet, which is why we give this test a moderate clinical value to in- and exclude the condition in practice.\n
\n\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qZzjXIXZL88[\/embed]\n\n<\/div>\nBefore you conduct the test, make sure you have examined and excluded more prevalent pathologies in the lumbar spine and SI joint that could explain the patient\u2019s symptoms.\nTo perform the test, have the patient in side-lying position on the unaffected side. The patient flexes the knee of the affected side and places his foot on the examination table. The examiner palpates for the piriformis muscles running from S2 to S4 to the greater trochanter. While the examiner gives resistance at the flexed knee with his other hand, the patient is asked to drive their heel into the examination table, initiating active hip abduction and external rotation. \n\nThe test is positive if the patient\u2019s familiar complaints of gluteal pain and\/or paraesthesia radiating into the posterior aspect of the lower extremity are reproduced.\n\nOther common tests to assess for deep gluteal syndrome are:\n