Piriformis Syndrome & Deep Gluteal Pain: A Clinical Reasoning Approach for Manual Therapy Practitioners

This is a 5 hour CPD course This course has been completely rewritten and updated for 2026. If you previously completed the earlier Piriformis Syndrome course, this version can be considered a fully new course with substantially revised content, updated clinical perspectives, and expanded discussion of deep gluteal pain mechanisms. This professional development course provides an updated, evidence-informed exploration of piriformis syndrome and deep gluteal pain, two commonly misunderstood sources of buttock and posterior hip pain. Designed for remedial massage therapists, myotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and other manual therapy practitioners, the course focuses on clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, and practical management strategies relevant to everyday practice. Throughout the course, practitioners will explore the functional anatomy of the deep gluteal region, the role of the piriformis and short external rotators, and the behaviour of the sciatic nerve within the deep gluteal space. Current understanding of pain mechanisms is examined, including mechanical load sensitivity, neural irritation, and protective muscular responses. The course also guides clinicians through structured assessment and differential diagnosis, helping distinguish deep gluteal pain from lumbar radiculopathy, sacroiliac referral patterns, and proximal hamstring pathology. Management strategies emphasise load modification, movement rehabilitation, manual therapy considerations, neural sensitivity management, and effective client education. By the end of this module, manual therapy practitioners will have a clearer framework for recognising, assessing, and managing piriformis-related and deep gluteal pain presentations in clinical practice.