Comparative effects of fascial distortion model with and without neuromuscular inhibition technique on pain, range of motion and quality of life in patients with piriformis syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of the fascial distortion model (FDM) with and without neuromuscular inhibition technique (NIT) on pain, range of motion and quality of life in patients with piriformis syndrome.

METHODS

The study was a randomized controlled trial and 54 participants were randomly allocated by lottery method into two groups. Group A (27 participants) received the FDM with NIT and Group B (27 participants) received the FDM alone. The patients were treated for six weeks, three sessions each week on alternate days. Outcome measurements were taken before the first treatment session and after the last (sixth week) session. Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Sciatica Bothersomeness Index (SBI), and Goniometer were used as outcome measures. SPSS version 25 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Data was normally distributed by the Shapiro-Wilk Test. Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were observed in the FDM with NIT than in FDM alone. Both groups show significant results in all outcome measures with paired sample t-tests (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that participants with piriformis syndrome show more improvement in the FDM with NIT than the FDM group alone.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05404607.