Skip to main content
Skip to main content
Physio Energy

Muscles

Obturator internus

Deep hip external rotator; influences pelvic floor.

Referred pain map

Obturator internus
Obturator internus — trigger point inside the pelvis on the inner surface of the obturator membrane (oblique front view) refers pain to the perineum, coccyx and lower buttock, and down the posterior thigh; and, together with sphincter ani, levator ani and coccygeus, contributes to the diffuse perineal / anal / gluteal pain of chronic pelvic pain and 'levator ani syndrome'.
Obturator internus
Pelvic floor group (sphincter ani, levator ani, coccygeus) — trigger points along the levator ani (view from below) refer a diffuse aching pain across the perineum, coccyx and buttock cleft; central to chronic pelvic pain, coccydynia and post-partum pelvic dysfunction, and best assessed intra-vaginally or intra-rectally by trained pelvic-floor clinicians.

Overview

Deep hip external rotator; influences pelvic floor. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.

Trigger point locations

Inside the pelvis, palpable via internal exam by trained clinicians.

Referred pain pattern

Deep pelvic pain, perineal and rectal pain — frequent contributor to chronic pelvic pain syndromes.

Palpation & testing

Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.

Common causes

Prolonged sitting, cycling, post-surgical scarring, pelvic floor dysfunction.

Self-care & clinical treatment

Pelvic floor coordination, hip mobility. Clinically: internal release by trained pelvic floor physiotherapists.

Symptoms commonly linked

References

  • • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction
Share: