The piriformis is a short muscle that attaches on the upper portion of the greater trochanter, a knob of bone at the top of the outer thigh. It comes across the back of the pelvis to attach on the front or inside portion of the sacrum. The sciatic nerve is formed by five nerve roots from the lower spine and enters the leg by exiting the pelvis through a space called the greater sciatic foramen. It descends along the back of the thigh until it splits into the tibial and common peroneal nerve, which innervates the muscles of the lower leg. The tibial nerve goes on to innervate the muscles of the foot.

Sciatica is a condition where the sciatic nerve is compressed most often through the bones of the lumbar spine as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. Sciatica is a symptom of a problem somewhere along the sciatic nerve rather than an ailment in and of itself. It is usually an issue of spinal alignment and integrity (i.e. herniated discs and stenosis) that has numerous avenues of healing available to it. Piriformis syndrome is a issue that can be dealt with muscularly, whether through stretching, massage, myofascial release or a number of other modalities.

Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle goes into spasm and irritates or compresses the sciatic nerve, which passes directly behind it. In an unfortunate 10- 15% of the population the piriformis muscle is pierced directly by the sciatic nerve. This isn't a problem in and of itself; problems will only arise if the muscle becomes injured or goes into spasm.

The sciatic nerve ultimately reaches the heel and the foot after it divides. In severe cases the pain from piriformis syndrome reaches that far down the leg. Weakness, numbness, shooting pain and other discomfort along the nerve pathway, are the most often reported symptoms of piriformis syndrome and sciatica.

Jonathan FitzGordon is the creator of the FitzGordon Method Core Walking Program. You can find more information at http://www.fitzgordonmethod.com or visit his blog at http://www.fitzgordonmethod.blogspot.com Jonathan has been practicing yoga since 1995 and has been teaching since 2000, having studied with some of the yoga community's leading teachers. In addition he is a Level II Reiki (healing art) practitioner. The FitzGordon Method is uniquely influenced by the Universal Principles of Alignment as created by John Friend of Anusara Yoga. The program synthesizes years of inquiry and practice and was born out of FitzGordon's personal and professional experience with changing neuromuscular patterning through self-awareness and repetition. The program's philosophy rests on the rock solid belief in our ability to change and evolve as we age.