Piriformis stretches are helpful to relieve the pain along the sciatic nerve.
Relevant anatomy
Piriformis is derived from the Latin words pirum and forma to mean pear shaped.
This muscle arises along the front surface of the sacrum in three projections that surround the middle two foramina. It passes obliquely out of the pelvic girdle and through the greater sciatic foramen to insert as a rounded tendon on the
crest of the greater trochanter.
Action: Piriformis rotates the extended thigh laterally, but abducts the flexed thigh.
The sciatic nerve exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen and typically courses below, although sometimes through, the piriformis muscle. Piriformis syndrome may occur from a shortened muscle, causing compression and irritation of the nerve at this site. Symptoms associated with piriformis syndrome typically consist of buttock pain that radiates into the hip, posterior aspect of the thigh, and the proximal portion of the lower leg.
There are many ways of stretching the piriformis muscle. These are some of the easier exercises for stretching it:
Four Point Piriformis Stretch
Piriformis Stretch - Long Sitting
Knee to Chest Piriformis Stretch
Pigeon Stretch for Piriformis