Piriformis Syndrome in Runners and Cyclists

In runners and cyclists, pain that starts deep in the hip and spreads into the leg is often linked to piriformis syndrome — a result of repetitive hip movement.

Why is it more common in these sports?

The piriformis muscle is involved in hip external rotation and works repeatedly during running and pedalling. Overuse can create tension in the muscle and pressure on the sciatic nerve running near it.

Telling it apart from a herniated disc

This distinction matters especially for athletes because the treatment approach is entirely different; training continued under the wrong diagnosis reinforces the complaint.

Training-related triggers

Running one direction on a cambered surface, an ill-fitting bike saddle height, and a sudden increase in distance are common triggers for piriformis syndrome.

Treatment and return to sport

Stretching and strengthening the hip's deep rotator muscles, combined with correcting the training error that triggered it, are the two pillars of a lasting fix.

Fzt. Bilal Kara assesses piriformis syndrome in runners and cyclists in Bursa Nilüfer alongside a training analysis. You can book an appointment.