Which symptom is NOT characteristic of Piriformis syndrome?

Prepare for the NPTE Musculoskeletal Exam with comprehensive questions and detailed explanations to boost your confidence and knowledge. Sharpen your skills and ace the exam!

Piriformis syndrome is a condition characterized by the irritation of the sciatic nerve, often due to hypertrophy or spasm of the piriformis muscle. The symptoms typically associated with this syndrome include pain and discomfort in the buttock region, which can radiate down the leg, particularly in cases where it compresses the sciatic nerve.

The symptom of patellar pain is not characteristic of Piriformis syndrome. Instead, this type of pain typically relates to issues in the knee joint or surrounding structures, such as patellofemoral pain syndrome or ligament injuries. In contrast, symptoms commonly observed in Piriformis syndrome include pain with sitting, as the position can aggravate the muscle and the nerve, an antalgic gait, which results from pain during certain movements, and pain due to lateral rotation at the hip, as the piriformis muscle is involved in this motion.

By recognizing that patellar pain does not arise from issues with the piriformis muscle or the sciatic nerve, it becomes clear why this symptom is the outlier among those listed.

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