Diagnosis and management of piriformis syndrome: an osteopathic approach.

Piriformis syndrome is a neuromuscular condition characterized by hip and buttock pain. This syndrome is often overlooked in clinical settings because its presentation may be similar to that of lumbar radiculopathy, primary sacral dysfunction, or innominate dysfunction. The ability to recognize piriformis syndrome requires an understanding of the structure and function of the piriformis muscle and its relationship to the sciatic nerve. The authors review the anatomic and clinical features of this condition, summarizing the osteopathic medical approach to diagnosis and management. A holistic approach to diagnosis requires a thorough neurologic history and physical assessment of the patient based on the pathologic characteristics of piriformis syndrome. The authors note that several nonpharmacologic therapies, including osteopathic manipulative treatment, can be used alone or in conjunction with pharmacotherapeutic options in the management of piriformis syndrome.

Spirituality and medicine: prevalence of spirituality-in-medicine instruction at osteopathic medical schools.

CONTEXT: Since the 1990s, there has been a heightened awareness of the value of teaching medical students about how aspects of spirituality and religion may affect patient care. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of spirituality-in-medicine instruction at colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) in the United States. METHODS: Prescreened subjects at 20 COMs were contacted by electronic mail and asked to complete a 25-item Web-based survey. The survey instrument consisted of questions about spirituality-in-medicine instruction at their institutions. If an institution was not represented in our survey results through subject response, we reviewed that institution's Web site to locate material suggestive of an extant spirituality-in-medicine curricula (eg, prospective student information). RESULTS: Surveys were submitted to investigators by representatives of 12 COMs for a response rate of 60%. Subjects from 8 COMs reported a structured spirituality-in-medicine curriculum currently in place at their institutions. Osteopathic medical students generally receive a total of 2 to 20 hours of instruction on spirituality and religion. Of the 10 unrepresented institutions, 4 COMs had material available on their Web sites that suggested spirituality-in-medicine topics were embedded in their curricula. Therefore, approximately 55% of all COMs have some form of spirituality-in-medicine program in place. CONCLUSION: Some form of spirituality-in-medicine instruction is available at slightly more than half the COMs in the United States. As the need for spirituality-in-medicine curricula is increasingly recognized, improved methods of documenting ongoing curricular development and student competency will be required.