In this article, you will find out everything you need to know about gluteus medius pain and the most effective ways to treat it, including an advanced treatment called Prolotherapy.
Table of Contents
- What Is The Gluteus Medius?
- What Are The Causes Of Gluteus Medius Pain?
- What Are The Symptoms Associated With Gluteus Medius Pain?
- How Is Gluteus Medius Pain Diagnosed?
- Treatment Options For Gluteus Medius Pain
- Prolotherapy for Gluteus Medius Pain
- What Are The Complications Of Untreated Gluteus Medius Pain?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact ProHealth Clinic
- Author Bio
- References
Gluteus medius pain refers to discomfort or pain that occurs when the gluteus medius is underworked or becomes weak due to extended periods of sedentary sitting. Prolonged sitting puts severe strain on the gluteus medius muscle, leading to loss of function and range of motion, perpetuating gluteus medius pain[1].
It can also result from repetitive microtrauma, overuse, running on soft surfaces, or repetitive hip abduction. Athletes and runners are especially prone due to muscle rupture or tear.
What Is The Gluteus Medius?
The gluteus medius is one of the three main hip muscles, located beneath the gluteus maximus. It sits along the outer surface of your ilium, with about one-third covered by the gluteus maximus. The gluteus minimus is the third muscle in this group. The gluteus medius runs diagonally along the lateral upper buttock.
The function of gluteal muscles:
- Chief mover of hip abduction
- Prevents pelvic drop during single-leg weight-bearing, walking, and running
- Assists with hip rotation and stabilizes the pelvis during gait
- The anterior portion assists in medial rotation of the hip[3]
What Are The Causes Of Gluteus Medius Pain?
- Degenerative changes or traumatic injuries causing partial or complete tears
- Tight hip abductors inhibiting the gluteus medius
- Prolonged sitting cross-legged
- Inflammation or degeneration of the gluteus medius tendon
- Failure to stretch hip flexors
- Standing with weight shifted to one side
- Hamstring tendinopathy (buttock pain)[4,5]
What Are The Symptoms Associated With Gluteus Medius Pain?
- Lateral hip tenderness
- Inability to bear weight on the affected limb
- Hip bursa inflammation
- Sciatica
- Night pain interfering with sleep
- Decreased hip range of motion
- Limping
- Gluteus medius muscle dysfunction
Symptoms may be mistaken for sciatica, bursitis, lower back pain, or hamstring tendinopathy. Consult an orthopaedic specialist if you experience these symptoms.
How Is Gluteus Medius Pain Diagnosed?
Physical Examination:
- Gait assessment
- Muscle strength testing
- Palpation of the affected muscle
Positive Trendelenburg sign or single-leg squat test may indicate a tear. Addressing hip alignment and related factors is crucial for recovery. Gastrocnemius muscle tightness can also increase hip strain.
X-ray, Ultrasound, MRI: Imaging helps identify tears, inflammation, and degenerative changes[6].
Treatment Options For Gluteus Medius Pain
The function of the gluteus medius can be restored with several effective treatments:
Prolotherapy for Gluteus Medius Pain
In recent years, Prolotherapy has built its reputation within the medical community for its clinically proven ability to treat gluteus medius pain.
Published research has proven its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and regenerative benefits.
Prolotherapy involves injecting a natural regenerative solution with tiny needles. This stimulates collagen production, helping repair damage and restore the gluteus medius muscle to full health.
As prolotherapy treats the root cause of gluteus medius pain, it is considered a permanent fix, preventing symptoms from returning.
1. RICE Therapy:
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevation
Deep tissue massage, physical therapy, and stretching exercises can strengthen hip muscles and promote mobility. Assistive devices (crutches, cane) and using a pillow between the legs can also help.
2. NSAIDs & Steroid Injections:
NSAIDs and ultrasound-guided steroid injections can relieve pain and inflammation. Steroids are injected near the injury site for targeted relief.
3. Surgery:
For full-thickness tears, surgery may be needed to reattach the tendon to the femur, restoring function and strength[7].
What Are The Complications Of Untreated Gluteus Medius Pain?
- Chronic lower back pain
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Ankle injuries and arthritis
- Knee instability (iliotibial band dysfunction)
- Hip osteoarthritis
- Full-thickness gluteus medius tear
- Gluteus medius tendinopathy (“dead butt syndrome”)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would my gluteus medius hurt?
Common causes include tendonitis, ligament tears, overuse, poor movement technique, bad posture, and both inactivity and overactivity of the glute muscles.
How long does a gluteus medius strain take to heal?
Healing time varies, but most people recover in about 3 months, with full function restored in up to a year. Recovery may be faster with proper treatment and rehabilitation.
Is walking good for gluteus medius?
Walking can aid recovery, but overdoing it may worsen symptoms. The gluteus medius stabilizes the pelvis during walking, helping prevent knee misalignment.
What does a gluteus medius strain feel like?
Pain is usually aggravated by activity, sitting, or lying on the affected side. You may feel tenderness, irritation, limping, and reduced hip movement.
How do you treat an inflamed gluteus medius?
Identify and address the cause, use anti-inflammatories, and follow the RICE protocol. Physical therapy and strengthening exercises are also important.
How do I know if I strained my gluteus medius?
Pain in the buttock, pain with stairs or sitting, limping, and reduced hip range of motion are common signs of a strain.
Contact ProHealth Clinic Today for Your FREE 15-Minute Discovery Call
Don’t let gluteus medius pain control your life any longer. Join the thousands of patients who have found lasting relief through prolotherapy at ProHealth Clinic.
Get in Touch
Phone: +441234380345
Email: info@prohealthclinic.co.uk
Our Clinic Locations
London: 104 Harley Street, Marylebone, W1G 7JD
Manchester: The Hadley Clinic, 64 Bridge Street, M3 3BN
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All clinics offer the same award-winning prolotherapy treatment with convenient appointment times, including evenings and weekends.
Author Bio
Having performed over 10,000 procedures, Mr Eaton is one of the UK’s leading practitioners in the field of treating gluteus medius pain, with patients travelling to see him from across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.
With over 12 years of clinical experience, Oliver is dedicated to helping patients understand their symptoms associated with gluteus medius pain and providing effective treatment options to alleviate them.
He qualified in Prolozone Therapy and Prolotherapy in America with the American Academy of Ozonotherapy. He continued on to complete further qualifications at the Royal Society of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital in London, Keele University’s Anatomy & Surgical Training Centre, and the medical department of Heidelberg University in Germany.
Over the years he has had the privilege of treating many elite-level athletes, including both Olympic and Commonwealth medallists.
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References
- Kokubo R, Kim K. Gluteus Medius Muscle Pain BT – Entrapment Neuropathy of the Lumbar Spine and Lower Limbs. In: Isu T, Kim K, editors., Singapore: Springer Singapore; 2021, p. 27–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6204-8_4.
- Presswood L, Cronin J, Keogh JWL, Whatman C. Gluteus Medius: Applied Anatomy, Dysfunction, Assessment, and Progressive Strengthening. Strength Cond J 2008;30.
- Reiman MP, Bolgla LA, Loudon JK. A literature review of studies evaluating gluteus maximus and gluteus medius activation during rehabilitation exercises. Physiother Theory Pract 2012;28:257–68. https://doi.org/10.3109/09593985.2011.604981.
- Godshaw B, Wong M, Ojard C, Williams G, Suri M, Jones D. Acute Traumatic Tear of the Gluteus Medius and Gluteus Minimus in a Marathon Runner. Ochsner J 2019;19:405–9. https://doi.org/10.31486/toj.18.0090.
- Aepli-Schneider N, Treumann T, Müller U, Schmid L. [Degenerative rupture of the hip abductors. Missed diagnosis with therapy-resistant trochanteric pain of the hips and positive Trendelenburg sign in elderly patients]. Z Rheumatol 2012;71:68–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00393-011-0919-Y.
- LaPorte C, Vasaris M, Gossett L, Boykin R, Menge T. Gluteus medius tears of the hip: a comprehensive approach. Phys Sportsmed 2019;47:15–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2018.1527172.
- Meghpara MB, Bheem R, Haden M, Rosinsky PJ, Shapira J, Maldonado DR, et al. Differences in Clinical Presentations and Surgical Outcomes of Gluteus Medius Tears Between Men and Women. Am J Sports Med 2020;48:3594–602. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546520966335.