The Effect of Graston Technique in Deep Gluteal Syndrome

Deep gluteal syndrome describes the presence of pain in the buttock caused from non-discogenic and extrapelvic entrapment of the sciatic nerve. Several structures can be involved in sciatic nerve entrapment within the gluteal space [1]. There are many anatomical variations between the sciatic nerve and piriformis muscle (PM) [2]. Some authors have associated deep gluteal pain syndrome with piriformis syndrome (PS) [3]. Chronic buttock pain caused by the musculoskeletal pathologies of the PM such as myofascial pain or pinching of the sciatic nerve by the PM during certain leg and hip maneuvers [4]. In most cases, PS is widely believed to be myofascial in origin [5].

Treatment of PS starts with conservative pharmacotherapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and neuropathic pain agents and continues with physical therapy, which includes stretching of the PM to correct the underlying pathology [6]. If the conservative regimen fails, then more aggressive therapy, such as local injection of PM, which may reconfirm the diagnosis through therapeutic success, should be performed [7].

Myofascial release is a specific manual therapy method claimed to be useful for treating skeletal muscle immobility and pain by relaxing contracted muscles, improving blood, oxygen, and lymphatic circulation, and stimulating the stretch reflex in muscles [8]. The Graston Technique (GT) is a form of manual therapy known as soft-tissue instrument-assisted mobilization. It is one of a number of manual therapy approaches that uses instruments with a specialized form of massage/scraping the skin and miyofascia gently [9]. This technique seems to have the therapeutic effects of inhibiting the adhesion of tissue, increasing the number of fibroblasts, and promoting collagen synthesis [10].

Gait analysis has been widely used in the diagnosis of locomotors pathology and the assessment of treatment. But study of gait on deep gluteal syndrome remain unclear. 3-D motion analysis can be used to measure the kinematic and kinetic together with temporal-spatial parameters data of patients with deep gluteal syndrome during walking. Patients with deep gluteal syndrome show significant increase gait speed and cadence, and peak extensor moments with increased flexion, abduction and internal rotation at the hip during the whole gait cycle [11].

Shear Wave elastography is an imaging technique which quantifies tissue stiffness by measuring the speed of shear waves in tissue. It is a new advanced dynamic ultrasound technique that provides information about the stiffness / consistency of the tissue by measuring the degree of strain in the tissue without external force [12].