Investigation of the Relationship Between Pes Planus and Piriformis Syndrome: A Case-Control Study

Investigation of the Relationship Between Pes Planus and Piriformis Syndrome: A Case-Control Study

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between Pes Planus and Piriformis Syndrome. The study will be conducted on individuals aged 18-65 years who are native Turkish speakers, have Turkish reading and writing skills, have been diagnosed with piriformis syndrome, and voluntarily agree to participate. Participants will consist of individuals who have not previously undergone lumbar, hip, or lower extremity surgery and have not received injection therapy (corticosteroids, PRP) or any other physiotherapy program within the last three months.

In the literature, the effects of pes planus deformity on the lower extremity kinetic chain, especially its relationship with patellofemoral pain syndrome and non-specific low back pain, have been widely studied. However, case-control studies examining the direct relationship between increased tibial and femoral internal rotation caused by pes planus, the compensatory hypertrophy in the piriformis muscle which tries to stabilize the hip joint, and the resulting 'Piriformis Syndrome' are quite limited. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature by revealing the effect of foot postural disorders on deep gluteal region pathologies with clinical tests and to provide a biomechanical perspective to treatment protocols.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Piriformis group

  • 18-50 years old
  • Clinical diagnosis of piriformis syndrome
  • Positive FAIR test
  • Piriformis tenderness on palpation Control group
  • No piriformis syndrome
  • No hip or lower back pain
  • No neurological disease

Exclusion Criteria:

• Herniated disc (L5-S1 radiculopathy),
• previous hip surgery,
• inflammatory joint diseases
• neurological deficits…