Training wheels for the piriformis/sciatica stretch
This is not medical advice.
Firstly, you should see someone in person to determine if this is appropriate for you.
I like this hip stretch in this position because the spine is supported by the floor or table. Most of the patients that I see cannot perform the traditional hip stretch for piriformis/sciatica pain that we give them. They are either not strong, slim or (ironically) flexible enough to perform the stretch.
If the patients were strong, slim or flexible enough, they likely wouldn’t need this stretch.
I have found a way to make this stretch more successful and tolerable. You can use any object, like a box or coffee table. If you lie on the floor, get close to a couch.
Supporting the lower leg helps people hold this stretch. This also prevents the spine from being too flexed because you are straining so hard to hold both legs
Social media and technology can be amazing for your own health advocacy. You can learn a dozen different perspectives on one issue.
You can also be bombarded with dismissiveness about any given opinion. Mention piriformis syndrome or sciatica, and we can also find a dozen people to say that it doesn’t exist.
And that may also be true. It’s good to get all the opinions, and find what works best for you.
Floor sitting vs chair sitting
It’s possible that much of our low back pain originates from sitting in chairs, and not being able to sit on the ground or floor. This hip stretch below helps us to sit on a flat surface. Sometimes we have back pain because we are so inflexibile around the hips.
It's a good point. We are inundated with fitness and health information online, there is a tendency to become cynical. I do to be honest. We get fatigued by it. My own view/understanding for what it's worth about piriformis syndrome is it exists, but it's probably a low percentage of sciatica. Think you're right that too much sitting causes problems.