Acute effect of continuous 10 second passive stretching on piriformis flexibility

Background: Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a neuromuscular condition characterized by buttock pain and sciatic nerve irritation, often exacerbated by sitting or lower limb activity. Conservative interventions, including stretching, are commonly used to manage symptoms, but evidence on the acute effectiveness of short-duration passive stretching is limited.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of a 10-second passive stretching intervention on piriformis muscle flexibility and associated pain in adults aged 20–45 years.
Methods: A total of 20 participants (13 males, 7 females) with piriformis tightness and lower back discomfort were recruited. Pre- and post-intervention assessments of pain were performed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Participants were stratified by age (20–35 and 35–45 years) and gender to examine subgroup responses. Data were analysed for overall pain reduction, age- and gender-specific effects, and improvements in muscle flexibility.
Results: The intervention significantly reduced pain, with mean VAS scores decreasing from 5.45 pre-intervention to 2.80 post-intervention (mean reduction: 2.65). Both age groups demonstrated comparable improvements (20–35 years: 2.62; 35–45 years: 2.67), and both genders benefited, with slightly higher reductions in males (2.69) compared to females (2.57). Participants with higher baseline pain also experienced meaningful improvements. Advanced visualization techniques, including KDE and violin plots, highlighted pain distribution and intervention efficacy.
Conclusion: A 10-second passive stretching intervention effectively reduces pain and improves piriformis muscle flexibility across age and gender groups. These findings support its potential clinical application for acute management of piriformis syndrome. However, small sample size and gender imbalance suggest that larger, more balanced studies are needed to confirm and generalize these results.