Low Back Pain – Check your gluteus medius

Low Back Pain Actually is Pain in the Rear?

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons people seek massage therapy.  It seems to affect most everyone- office workers, marathon runners, stay at home parents, nurses, you name it! With such a varied group of people being affected it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause. While there are several different culprits which we could blame for LBP a common offender is the muscle gluteus medius.

Back pain in office chair physiotherapy Burnaby

What is gluteus medius?

Gluteus medius is one of three gluteal muscles, the other two being gluteus maximux and minimus. Gluteus medius originates at the gluteal surface of the ilium between the posterior and anterior gluteal lines and inserts into the lateral surface of the greater trochanter of the femur.

The position of the hip determines the function of this muscle making it quite versatile.  This muscle can abduct, internally rotate, externally rotate and extend the thigh at the hip. It also helps prevent the pelvis from dropping during the gait cycle.

medical accurate illustration of the gluteus medius

What does this have to do with LBP?

Quite a bit actually. There have been recent studies which show a direct correlation between gluteus medius and LBP. When gluteus medius is stressed it can increase spine loading which can cause LBP. Due to the versatility of this muscle there are several ways in which to aggravate it- too much sitting, too much running, too much standing. Really, any sort of excessive posture or movement, which affects the hip, will affect this muscle. Last time I checked, most people spent a fair bit of time walking and sitting.

What can be done?

Lots! Manual therapy, such as massage, can help reduce LBP by addressing the soft tissue of the gluteals. Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) can teach you different stretches as well as postural education to reduce the amount of stress placed on the muscle. LBP might be common but that doesn’t mean that you have to suffer from it.

Related Information on Low Back Pain Treatments

Lower Back Pain Treatment at Burnaby PhysioCare

If you have any questions regarding lower back pain treatment, feel free to drop by and meet the team.

Our chiropractors and physiotherapists at Absolute PhysioCare & Sports Rehab in Burnaby B.C. can help you optimize your recovery and get you back to pre-injury state. Please contact us at 604-558-CARE (2273) or get in touch with us online!

References
  1. “Prevalence of gluteus medius weakness in people with chronic low back pain compared to healthy controls”, Eur Spine J. 2015 May 26., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26006705
  2. “The effects of active release techniques on the gluteus medius for pain relief in persons with chronic low back pain”, Korean Academy of Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science, July 1, 2013, https://www.jptrs.org/journal/view.html?volume=2&number=1&spage=27