the butt bone’s connected to the… front-of-hip-and-also-low-abs bone?

March 20, 2023 3:05 PM

I’ve been using a TheraGun lately (SO GOOD). When I direct pressure to the fleshy middle part of my tuchus, I can feel a slightly painful sensation running through the front of my hip, as well as a deep part of my abdomen, at a level with my uterus but closer to the surface. You are not my anatomist/physical therapist, but do you have any idea what muscle-relationship might lead to this particular feeling?

I have a very general understanding that muscles insert in mysterious ways, and that pressure on one might exert or relieve pressure on another, resulting in sensation. In giving massages to other folks and myself, this part of the butt is often implicated in low back pain. Certainly, “core” musculature across the back, abdomen, and hips must be neighborly in a number of ways. But this particular connection is new to me, and therefore super-interesting.

Bonus: if you’ve discovered any other cool push-here-feel-there spots, please share!

posted by rrrrrrrrrt to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

Best answer: psoas muscle?
posted by momus_window at 3:22 PM on March 20, 2023 [5 favorites]

Best answer: came here to say psoas as well
posted by gaspode at 3:44 PM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: > In giving massages to other folks and myself, this part of the butt is often implicated in low back pain. Certainly, “core” musculature across the back, abdomen, and hips must be neighborly in a number of ways. But this particular connection is new to me, and therefore super-interesting.

Check out the exercises, stretches, and so on at hep2g0 - keyword search- piriformis,
sciatic, psoas.

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/p/piriformis-syndrome.html
https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/s/sciatica.html
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:03 PM on March 20, 2023 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: momus_window, I’ve always thought of the psoas as the front of my hip - I had no idea it went all those places! Today, you are my teacher.

Thanks to gaspode and sebastienbailard as well - I’ll definitely check out those Cedars-Sinai links.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 7:21 PM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Chapman-Reflexes-Releasing-Piriformis-Pain-What-is-this-Magic from right here on the green is a great answer to your bonus.

I always remember it because of jamjam's amazing theory at the end re. tickling ribs and vestigial quadruped scratching with hind legs reflex.
posted by protorp at 5:34 AM on March 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

I think the psoas is the answer here (I overworked mine once recently and learned it is also known as the "can't get out of bed" muscle when it goes sideways, and sure enough!). It's also worth knowing about the hip labrum, the thing that keeps your ball and socket attached. You can get small tears in it which can be painful and have that weird "this is going all around my leg" feeling when aggravated.
posted by jessamyn at 10:17 AM on March 21, 2023 [1 favorite]