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Gluteus Medius Release

Gluteus Medius is an upper glute muscle that can cause a ton of low back, upper glute, and outer glute pain when tight [1]. Gluteus Medius release can be difficult with standard massage devices, but fortunately QL Claw is a lethal, targeted Gluteus Medius release tool. Scroll down to Gluteus Medius Pain Symptoms to determine if Gluteus Medius is causing you pain.

 

Gluteus Medius Release Tutorial

Gluteus Medius Release Placement:

 Gluteus Medius Release Placement

Gluteus Medius Release Video Walkthrough:

 

 

Gluteus Medius Release Written Tutorial

Placement: Sit with the tailbone directly on the ramp (the big end) of the Claw, and let the leg fall to the side - the trigger should dig right into Gluteus Medius right around the waistline. You may need to reposition or squirm around a few seconds to find the tender spots in Gluteus Medius, it is wide and there may be multiple knots and trigger points to work out.

Placement for Glute Medius Release Using QL Claw
Gluteus Medius Release Placement
 

Motion: Motion is crucial for Gluteus Medius release. Move the leg on the massage-side up and down for a nice Gluteus Medius trigger point release. Another option for Gluteus Medius release is to generate motion from the opposite-side leg, shaking the body up and down on the trigger of the Claw.

Glute Medius Release 1 Using QL Claw

Gluteus Medius Pressure Level 1: The Chicken Wing

Additional Pressure - The Figure Four: Cross the massage-side leg over the opposite knee in a figure-four position. Tilt the body into and away from the trigger (in a back and forth rocking motion) for deep, active Gluteus Medius release.

Glute Medius Release 2 Using QL Claw

Gluteus Medius Pressure Level 2: The Figure Four

Additional Pressure - The Pretzel: From The Figure Four, elevate the upper body onto the elbows. This will shift weight that is currently on your upper back directly into the Gluteus Medius muscle for release.

Glute Medius Release 3 Using QL Claw

Gluteus Medius Pressure Level 3: The Pretzel

How to know you've released a trigger point: When you release a knot/trigger point, you will feel the muscle give and will simultaneously feel the device sink in to your body. A massage generally feels less painful under higher pressure once a trigger point is released.

 

Gluteus Medius Pain Symptoms

Gluteus Medius Anatomy & Function:

Gluteus Medius is an upper-side glute muscle. It is the highest part of the buttock that has meat, and can be described as the pocket of the hip. 

Gluteus Medius Muscle Anatomy Release

Gluteus Medius Muscle

Gluteus Medius functions in hip abduction, keeping the body upright on one leg, and stability when carrying objects. When standing on your right leg, your right Gluteus Medius contracts to prevent you from tipping over to the left.

Gluteus Medius Hip Abduction
Hip Abduction - A Function of the Gluteus Medius Muscle
 

Gluteus Medius Pain Symptoms:

Gluteus Medius pain is typically worsened by physical activity. Complaints of Gluteus Medius pain can include pain after standing for too long, hiking, or walking [1]. Pain can be brought on by a single high stress event such as lifting a couch [2]. After Gluteus Medius pain is present, it can be very uncomfortable to sit, stand, walk, lift, or do anything physical.

Gluteus Medius Pain Patterns
Gluteus Medius Pain Pattern Chart [1]
 
As shown in the image above, Gluteus Medius can refer pain all over the low back, tailbone, and glutes. Gluteus Medius pain can be incredibly debilitating.
 
When Gluteus Medius is very tight, it can pull the pelvis posteriorly and remove the natural lumbar curve in the spine. This is painful and can exacerbate symptoms even worse. Removing trigger points and tightness in Gluteus Medius is essential to restoring the natural lumbar curve in the spine and eliminating muscle-induced pain.
 

Gluteus Medius Release:

Scroll back to the top to see how awesome QL Claw is as a Gluteus Medius release tool!

 

 
 

Check out our tutorials for releasing other low back-pain-inducing muscles below!

 

Sources/Influences:

[1] Donnelly, Joseph M. Travell, Simons & Simons Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: the Trigger Point Manual. 3rd ed., Wolters Kluwer Health, 2019.

[2] Davies, Clair, and Amber Davies. The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief. 3rd ed., New Harbinger Publications, Inc., 2013.

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