Piriformis Self Stretch Below 90 Degrees

To Stretch the Left Piriformis:

• Have the patient place their left foot outside of their right knee and flat on the table.
• The patient places their left hand over the left pelvis to stabilize and places the right hand over the lower left thigh, a towel or belt wrapped around the lower left thigh will also work.
• Have the patient maintain an active contraction of the right leg to keep it straight.
• Instruct the patient to slowly pull the left leg across until a stretch is felt in the left posterior hip area.
• From this position a series of contract/relax efforts can be made for 5-7 seconds, progressively stretching into further adduction or the stretch can be maintained for 30 seconds and repeated 2-3 times.