Piriformis Syndrome: Treatment, Diet and Home Remedies

Food and Nutrition

Foods to be taken
  • Fish is a wonderful food for helping the body in the healing process
  • Fresh pineapple, berries of all sorts are anti-inflammatory aid healing and also enhance the immune system
  • Spices like turmeric, garlic, ginger are all anti-inflammatory in nature
  • The B vitamins are highly important and can be found in green peas, spinach, navy beans, nuts, pinto beans, bananas, sweet potatoes, whole grain fortified cereals and breads and unpolished rice and legumes
  • Foods rich in Vitamins A, such as dairy products – milk, cheese and yogurt, carrots, dark green leafy vegetables, orange-coloured fruits, e.g. mangoes and apricots, fortified margarine, eggs, mackerel and other oily fish
  • Betacarotene rich foods like broccoli, apricots, carrots and sweet potatoes
  • Vitamin C rich foods especially citrus, regular and sweet potatoes, cabbage, spinach broccoli, tomatoes, and green and yellow vegetables
  • Vitamin K sources such as broccoli and spinach, alfalfa, vegetable oils and cereals
  • Drink plenty of water. Your body needs adequate water to function at an optimum level. Adults need between 1.5 – 3 litres a day
Foods to be avoided
  • Fatty and oily foods
  • Refined and processed foods

Yoga and Exercise

  • Piriformis stretch
  • Standing hamstring stretch
  • Hip abduction (with elastic tubing)
  • Partial curl
  • Prone hip extension (bent leg)
  • Quadruped Arm/Leg Raises
  • Massage helps decrease pain and spasm in your piriformis and increases blood flow
  • Acupuncture or Dry Needling reduces muscle tightness around the buttock
Yoga asanas which help in treating piriformis syndrome include: 
  • Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Spinal Twist)
  • Agnistambhasana (fire-log pose)
  • Gomukhasana (Cow-Face pose)
  • Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose)

Home Remedies

  • Place ice/heat packs on your buttock for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for the first 2 to 3 days or until the pain goes away
  • Rest
  • Maintain good posture when you are sitting, driving or standing
  • Avoid sitting or lying down for long periods of time in a position that puts too much pressure on your buttocks
  • Roll up a towel in the shape of a doughnut, or toilet seat, and use that as a cushion to sit on.  This maneuver will be useful for people who sit for extended periods





Gluteal pain, buttock pain, sciatica, sciatic nerve pain, wallet sciatica, fat wallet syndrome, hip pain, waist pain, Piriformis Syndrome dos & donts, Piriformis Syndrome nutrition plan, foods to avoid for Piriformis Syndrome,