Muscles
Obturator internus
Deep hip external rotator; influences pelvic floor.
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