Suffering with lower back pain isn’t uncommon – especially in women – but many of us are unaware of what’s causing the pain we feel. While sitting still at a desk all day can lead to muscular tension, there are many different muscles and nerves that can contribute to discomfort in the lower back.

The piriformis muscles are a pair of small, pear-shaped muscles located deep on either side of the bottom. While many might not know the piriformis muscle exists, let alone what it does, it can have a big impact on our mobility and wellbeing. Not only is it involved in many lower body movements (including the rotation, extension and stabilisation of the hip), but it also sits close to the sciatic nerve; in some people, the nerve even runs through the muscle. And this means that tension, overuse or inflammation of the piriformis muscle can lead to it pressing down on the nerve.

Failing to look after your piriformis muscle can lead to a condition known as piriformis syndrome, where the sciatic nerve becomes irritated or inflamed due to the piriformis muscle tightening or spasming. It can cause symptoms such as pain, tingling or numbness in the lower back and bottom area, which sometimes radiates down the leg, and is treated using a combination of muscle-strengthening exercises.

3 quick and easy piriformis stretches to relieve tension in your lower back