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Deep buttock pain: Could it be your pelvic floor?
You’ve got hip pain and you’re doing all the right things. You’ve seen your physio, you’re doing your exercises, but it just isn’t getting better.
Have you considered that the source of your pain might actually be your obturator internus?
Pain that is diagnosed as gluteal tendinopathy, hip impingement, or piriformis syndrome can sometimes be missing an important piece of the puzzle. In some cases, the obturator internus may be contributing or driving the problem.
The obturator internus is a deep hip rotator muscle that sits deep in the buttock. It also forms part of the lateral wall of the pelvis and has fascial connections with the pelvic floor. Because of this close relationship, dysfunction in this muscle can sometimes present as deep buttock, hip, or pelvic pain.
How can you get to the true bottom of your pain? (Sorry pun intended…) Enter a Women’s Health Physiotherapist…
A Women’s Health Physiotherapist is trained to assess both the musculoskeletal system AND the pelvic floor - helping to identify whether the pain is coming from the hip, the pelvic floor, or a combination of both.
When should you see a Women’s Health Physio?
- Persistent deep buttock pain that isn’t improving with standard treatment
- Pain with sitting that doesn’t respond to typical physiotherapy approaches
- Pain with sex or penetration
- Pelvic pain combined with hip or buttock pain
- Constipation
So, in summary!
Hip and pelvic pain are often closely connected. If your symptoms aren’t improving with traditional hip rehabilitation, it may be worth considering whether the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles, such as the obturator internus, could be involved.
A Women’s Health Physiotherapist can help assess the whole system to ensure that no piece of the puzzle is being missed. Book in a Women’s Health initial appointment with The Studio team and we’ll get you sorted.
