Hip Pain

Buttock Pain with Stiff Low Back

Table of Contents

How People Describe This Pain Pattern

People tend to run a hand up and down their hip and complain of stiffness. Then, they focus on their buttock and say that it focuses on that spot. Often they complain of a stiff low back and included that area in their demonstration. Their low back is noticeably stiff to the touch between the ribs and hips. Occasionally, they will trace from side to side along their lower ribs.

Often, they have become slow and cautious in their movements. They often bend at the knees to pick up things on a low table. Many complain of a pinched nerve in their back that hurts deep in the muscles of their but. Older clients are concerned about a deteriorating hip that may need replacement.

How You Activate and Intensify This Pain Pattern

Typically, this area is aggravated in one of two ways.

Twist and Ouch

Often, especially in younger patients, there was a sudden twisting motion. Sometimes, this is a fall, like slipping on ice. Motor vehicle accidents are also a source of the problem.

Also, there is often a repetitive twist to one side in older patients. Waling with a poorly fit cane can aggravate this trigger point. As well, walking on the beach or down a long flight of steps with a low railing can be agitating. Construction, painting, and landscaping often involve repetitive twisting and balancing. Tossing bales of straw, reaching back while on a ladder, or reaching back to a high shelf are common irritants.

Blunt Trauma

Occasionally this is aggravated by a blow to the low back. For example, one might fall onto furniture while backing up or land on your back while hiking or biking. This happened to me when I was backing up in my driveway, tripped on a ledge, and fell onto the car.

The Musculoskeletal Anatomy Behind Your Pain

Musculoskeletal Anatomy

About these Illustrations…

This post on anatomy contains standard information about the origin, insertion, function, and innervation of muscles. Additionally, it includes information on functional considerations and anomalies.

Find Related Posts

Anatomy posts have a grid of all related posts. This includes posts on pain patterns, self-care, therapy notes, NMT protocols, cranial techniques, and cases.

Getting Relief on Your Own

Clinically Proven
Self-Care Strategies

This post has strategies for getting relief on your own. Explore how to change your activities, stretch, ice, and more to relieve the pain associated with this trigger point.

Therapy Notes for Massage and Bodywork

Better Bodywork
Through Shared Expertise

This post has techniques, tips, treatment routines, and anatomy illustrations to improve the bodyworker’s approach.

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Tony Preston has a practice in Atlanta, Georgia, where he sees clients. He has written materials and instructed classes since the mid-90s. This includes anatomy, trigger points, cranial, and neuromuscular.

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*This site is undergoing significant changes. We are reformatting and expanding the posts to make them easier to read. The result will also be more accessible and include more patterns with better self-care. Meanwhile, there may be formatting, content presentation, and readability inconsistencies. Until we get older posts updated, please excuse our mess.