Whenever you think about the essential muscles that help to avoid injuries and boost your running performance, you would mostly think about hamstrings, calves and the trunk musculature. These muscles are important, but at the same time you need to know the there is another forgotten muscle that plays an important role in the performance and health of the runners. It is known as the Gluteus Medius. It is a wide, chunky, radiating muscle and is located on the outer side of the pelvis.

Attached to the top of the pelvic bone and to the outside of femur, gluteus medius is responsible for hoisting the upper leg to the side. But the resistant action of the gluteus medius is what that makes it very crucial for preserving the well-being of the hips, ankles and of course the knees. It takes in the ground reaction energy as your foot touches the ground, restricts the inward motion of the knee and balances the pelvis over the leg as you burden the lower limb.

If there is any injury in the gluteus medius due to overworking or the weakening of muscles, it can also transmit to other areas because of the loss of the appropriate biomechanics.

Causes of Gluteus medius injuries

• Sitting cross-legged for a long time.
• Standing on hard floors for a large amount of time can cause tear in the gluteus medius muscles.
• Lifting extensively heavy objects and walking around again and again.
• Carrying a child on the hip for a prolonged period.
• Performing aerobic exercise and weight-lifting aggressively.
• Running

Symptoms of Gluteus Medius injury

• Experiencing pain in the lower back along the area of the belt line.
• Gluteus medius tear can result in hip and buttock pain.
• The experiencing pain would radiate towards the leg from the outer part to the inner part.
• It would be painful to lie down on one side.
• It would be difficult to sit or stand after a period of time.
• You might be having a visible hobble to your step when you walk.

Treatment and preventive action for Gluteus Medius injuries

It is required to have a proper rehabilitation with a certified physiotherapist in Perth for your gluteus medius injury so that you can get back to your sport successfully and eliminate the risk of another injury.  A physiotherapist in Perth would guide you through the rehabilitation program safely based on the level of injury, biomechanics and other previous injuries, the type of sports you have participated so far and about to participate in the future.

Physiotherapist in Perth would find the right exercises that could trigger and reinforce your gluteus medius and minimise the chance of getting any running-related injuries later on.