Pain in the buttock (buttock pain)

The buttocks are located at the back of the pelvis and are formed by different muscles. These muscles stabilize the pelvis and move the hips. Pain in the buttock is often felt deep in the buttock and usually develops gradually. Sometimes the symptoms can also arise acutely or shoot in suddenly. This happens, for example, when you take a misstep or make a wrong movement.

Anatomy of the buttock

The buttock consists of different muscles, of which the gluteal muscle lies most superficially and is the largest. In addition, there are several deeper muscles. There is fatty tissue around the muscle tissue. The gluteal muscle consists of three different muscles: 

• M. gluteus maximus.
• M. gluteus medius.
• M. gluteus minimus. 

An important blood vessel and a major nerve run through the buttock to the leg. The nerve (the sciatic nerve) can cause pain in the buttock. The cause of this pain is usually not directly in the buttock, but due to nerve entrapment in the lower back. 

The deeper muscles can also cause buttock pain, mainly when excessive muscle tension puts pressure on the nerve. Excessive tension in these muscles can be the result of overuse, for example with frequent hip rotation (as in dancers). Pain in the gluteal muscles also occurs regularly in runners when the gluteal muscles that stabilize the pelvis have to work too hard and become overworked.

The hamstrings attach to the so-called sit bones (ischial tuberosities) located at the bottom of both buttocks. Injured hamstrings can therefore cause pain in the buttock region and at the back of the thigh when sitting.

Check your buttock symptoms

Buttock pain can be very troublesome. Do you suffer from this? Then we advise you to take the online physical therapy check. Indicate where you feel the pain in your buttock and then answer the questions about your buttock symptoms. After you have answered the questions, your symptoms are compared with the most common conditions and injuries within physical therapy.

If you wish, you can visit a physical therapy practice for professional advice and treatment.

Buttock conditions

There are many conditions and injuries that can cause pain in or around the buttocks. Below we list the most common conditions for you.