Muscles
Coccygeus Trigger Points
Symptom Area: Lower Torso
Coccygeus Trigger Points are explored here through their location and referred pain pattern. Muscle knots is an everyday term used for tender muscular spots; myofascial pain describes pain involving muscle and its surrounding connective tissue. Posterior pelvic floor muscle; trigger points produce coccyx and low sacral pain, often worse when sitting.
Where you feel it
When the Coccygeus holds active trigger points, you usually notice it as menstrual problems, pelvic pain and si joint pain (base of the spine). Where the pain spreads: Pain over the coccyx and lower sacrum, sometimes into the buttock, typically aggravated by sitting on hard surfaces and by moving from sitting to standing. What often sets it off: Falls onto the tailbone, childbirth, prolonged sitting on hard surfaces, chronic straining or constipation, pelvic floor overactivity.
Overview
Coccygeus (ischiococcygeus) spans from the ischial spine to the lower sacrum and coccyx, forming the posterior part of the pelvic diaphragm together with levator ani. It supports the pelvic organs and helps stabilise the sacrococcygeal joint.
Trigger point locations
Points along the muscle sheet between the ischial spine and the coccyx, palpable intrarectally or intravaginally by trained clinicians.
Referred pain pattern
Pain over the coccyx and lower sacrum, sometimes into the buttock, typically aggravated by sitting on hard surfaces and by moving from sitting to standing.
Palpation & testing
Internal pelvic floor examination by an appropriately trained clinician; externally, tenderness may be provoked at the sacrococcygeal junction and around the coccyx.
Common causes
Falls onto the tailbone, childbirth, prolonged sitting on hard surfaces, chronic straining or constipation, pelvic floor overactivity.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Cushion modification (wedge or coccyx cut-out), pelvic floor down-training and diaphragmatic breathing, avoiding straining. Clinically: internal manual release by a pelvic health specialist; imaging if trauma is suspected.
Treatment protocol
For Coccygeus, the general protocol applies: sustained pressure release on the taut band, then stretch and active movement in the newly gained range.
Position and palpation: Internal pelvic floor examination by an appropriately trained clinician; externally, tenderness may be provoked at the sacrococcygeal junction and around the coccyx.
Regional precaution for clinicians: In the flank and abdominal wall the kidney (behind the twelfth rib and the quadratus lumborum), the abdominal viscera and the lower lung fields are the structures at risk.
Primary Symptoms
Often confused with
These muscles cause the same primary symptoms, so they are checked together:
Related muscles in this region
Related articles
References
- • triggerpoints.net — reference
Medically reviewed by: Marco Aruffo — physiotherapist since 2006, specialised in myofascial pain · Last reviewed:
