Causes of Lower Buttock Pain

What Structures May be Linked with Causes of Lower Buttock Pain?

Causes of lower buttock pain may include proximal hamstring tendinopathy, ischiogluteal bursitis, ischiofemoral impingement, and pain relating to the deep hip rotator muscles.

Understanding the Muscles Involved with Causes of Lower Buttock Pain?

The muscles of the lower buttock region are involved in providing support for the back of the hip joint and moving the hip into extension and external rotation – taking your leg backwards and turning your knee outwards.

If you put your hands on the lower half of your bottom you will be touching the lower portion of the gluteus maximus muscle, an important muscle for pushing up from a squat or lunge position or for extending the leg behind especially when walking up a hill or stairs.

The hamstring muscles (semimembranosis, semitendinosis and biceps femoris muscles) in the back of the thigh help to extend the hip (take the thigh backwards), but also bend the knee. This combined function makes the hamstring muscles very important muscles for transferring forces between the hip and lower leg in actions such as running, kicking, lifting and lunging.

Lower Buttock Muscles and possible cuases of lower buttock pain including gluteus Maximus and hamstring

Beneath the lower part of the gluteus maximus muscle, sit a group of small muscles, referred to as the deep hip rotators. They work to rotate the thigh and turn the knee outwards. They also have important connections into:

the back of the hip joint, allowing them to provide extra stability for the hip joint

the pelvic floor muscles.

The hamstring muscles in the back of the thigh also attach deep in the buttock, onto the sitting bones (ischial tuberosities). Directly on top of the hamstring attachment is a small flat, fluid-filled cushion (the ischial or ischiogluteal bursa). This helps reduce friction and allows smooth gliding of the largest buttock muscle (gluteus maximus) over the hamstring tendons.

Deep muscles of the Lower Buttock and possiple causes of lower buttck pain

Soft Tissue Related Causes of Lower Buttock Pain

Soft tissue-related causes of lower buttock pain may occur for many reasons:

Muscle soreness, tears or strains may occur in this region related to large or unusual forces across the largest buttock muscle (gluteus maximus) or the deep rotator muscles. Tears of the deep rotator muscles may occur with rapid change of direction or a twisting injury.
The deep rotators may also become overactive and painful associated with weakness or excessive activation of other muscles in this area (including the pelvic floor, gluteal or hamstring muscles).
Ischiofemoral impingement is a diagnosis referring to a situation where one of the deep external rotator muscles (quadratus femoris) is repetitively compressed in a smaller than normal gap between the sitting bone (ischial tuberosity) and the thigh bone (femur).
Hamstring tendon pain may come on quickly, in response to a large strain, often a slip or fall, or a rapid change in activity. However, changes in tendon health often evolve more slowly, related to postural, movement or athletic training habits, particularly long distance and hill running.
Ischial or ischiogluteal bursitis is a diagnosis referring to inflammation of the small, flat, fluid-filled cushion called the ischiogluteal bursa that sits over the hamstring tendons at the sitting bone. The bursa may become inflamed and painful when it is struggling to cope with high levels of compression or friction over the sitting bone, possibly associated with sitting on hard surfaces or athletic activity such as running uphill.

Visit our Pain Locator Map to learn more about other causes of lower buttock pain.

possible causes of lower buttock pain including proximal hamstring tendinopathy, deep hip rotator muscles and ischialtuberosity bursitis

Need Help? A Hip Pain Professional Can:

assess the gluteus maximus and deep hip rotator muscles
assess the hamstring muscles and their tendons
provide guidance as to what exercises will be most beneficial, for example, hamstring stretching is usually not helpful for those with hamstring tendinopathy or tendon tears.
assess if weakness is an issue and if so, exactly which of the muscles are weak or activating too much, thus providing you with exercises specific to your individual needs
assess if ‘neuromuscular’ control is an issue, that is, do you move in a way which may irritate or overload the painful structures
provide important advice about sporting activities, such as
‘how much is too much’
allowing adequate recovery between sessions
altering activity levels to match soft tissue tolerance
resting from or altering particular actions that place the highest load across the lower buttock region
provide advice on seating if pain while sitting is an issue
advise if injections or surgery may be warranted

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Authors:

This blog was written by Dr. Alison Grimaldi, with contribution from one of our Hip Pain Professionals, Kirsty McNab, experienced physiotherapist.

Dr. Alison Grimaldi is a globally recognised expert physiotherapist, researcher, and educator, who has over 30 years professional clinical experience helping patients recover from a wide range of hip and pelvic conditions.

Dr Alison Grimaldi - Hip Pain Professional

Dr. Alison Grimaldi BPhty, MPhty(Sports), PhD, FACP

Dr Grimaldi has completed Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Master of Physiotherapy and Doctor of Philosophy (Physiotherapy) degrees. She is a fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists, Practice Principal of PhysioTec Physiotherapy, an Australian Sports Physiotherapist , an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, as well as an author and global educator. Her passion is helping people with hip pain, and educating other health professionals around how to help more people with hip pain.

References

1.Goom T, Malliaras P, Reiman M, Purdam C. (2016). Proximal hamstring tendinopathy: clinical aspects of assessment and management. Journal of Orthopaedic Sports & Physical Therapy, 46(6), pp.483- 493.

2.Lempainen L, Johansson K, Banke IJ, et al.(2015). Expert opinion: diagnosis and treatment of proximal hamstring tendinopathy. Muscles Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 5, pp.23-28.

3.Puranen J, Orava S. The hamstring syndrome. (1988). A new diagnosis of gluteal sciatic pain. American Journal of Sports Medicine,16, pp.517-521.

4.Gollwitzer H et al (2017). How to address ischiofemoral impingement? Treatment algorithm and review of the literature. J Hip Preserv Surg v.4(4); 2017 Dec

Purchase your own self help program “Recovering from Piriformis Syndrome, Deep Gluteal Syndrome or Hip Related Sciatica” Read more here.

Check Out More You Can Read on this Area at HipPainHelp:

Pain Locator Map click on this interactive map to learn what may be causing pain in your area
Hip Related Sciatica (piriformis syndrome, deep gluteal syndrome): what, where and how? Read more about possible cuases of pain higher in the buttock muscles
Top Tips for Hip Pain Relief Sitting, when Socialising or Travelling. If your nerve pain is exacerbated when sitting this blog may be extremely useful in suggesting ideas to help relieve this.