Muscles
Gluteus medius
A leading cause of lateral hip pain and 'low back' pain that doesn't respond to spinal treatment.
Overview
Fan-shaped muscle on the lateral pelvis, abducts the hip and stabilizes the pelvis in single-leg stance. Weakness or trigger points produce a positive Trendelenburg pattern and lateral hip pain often misdiagnosed as trochanteric bursitis.
Trigger point locations
Three classic points along the iliac crest from the posterior superior iliac spine to the anterior third of the crest.
Referred pain pattern
Along the iliac crest, into the buttock, sacrum and posterior thigh — a common 'low back' pain pattern of muscular origin.
Palpation & testing
With the patient side-lying on the unaffected side, palpate along and just below the iliac crest. Reproducing pain in the low back or lateral hip confirms involvement.
Common causes
Prolonged sitting, asymmetric standing (hip hike), running with poor pelvic control, post-pregnancy.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Self-release with a ball against the wall, side-lying clamshells and banded abduction work, gait retraining. Clinically: needling responds quickly.
Symptoms commonly linked
References
- • Travell & Simons, Vol. 2