Wimbledon is under way so I thought it would be apt to bring the tennis balls back in to our Pilates classes this week, this time to loosen up the piriformis, one of the  main muscles which rotate the leg outwards at the hip.

Piriformis tightness is a common cause of many physical symptoms, including Sciatic pain. When this muscle gets tight it can pinch the sciatic nerve causing the burning pain of sciatica from the buttock, down the leg to the foot. Limited forward bending is another issue, so during your Pilates Roll Down you may feel tension in the buttocks and/or around the hip joints and sacrum.Low back pain and strain, which is a big reason for people starting Pilates, is another problem which can be caused by this little troublemaker.

If you’re lucky enough not to get any of these symptoms, give the massage a try anyway, it’s surprising how tender it is once you get going, but a massive sense of release afterwards.

Lets get these little blighters before they cause any more trouble!