The gluteal muscle group consists of three individual buttock muscles that originate from the pelvic crest and sacrum and insert into the head of the femur.  The largest and most superficial gluteal muscle is the gluteus maximus; the lateral part of the upper buttock lying deep to the gluteus maximus is the gluteus medius; and the smallest and deepest gluteal muscle is the gluteus minimus.

Gluteus Maximus and Gluteus Medius

What Does it Do?

The glutes assist us with lower body movements such as sitting, standing, running, walking, and jumping.  In addition, the gluteal muscles are also responsible for keeping the hips properly aligned, making their functionality crucial to our body posture.

More specifically, what are the actions of each individual gluteal muscle?

Gluteus Maximus

• Thigh extension
• Thigh external rotation
• Thigh abduction
• Thigh adduction

Gluteus Medius

• Thigh internal rotation
• Thigh abduction
• Pelvis stabilization

Gluteus Minimus

• Thigh internal rotation
• Thigh abduction
• Pelvis stabilization

Making it Strong

When your hips are well aligned, you’re less likely to encounter injuries to the legs, knees, groin, or lower back.  As stated earlier, strong gluteal muscles are necessary for balanced hips.  What are some of the most common glutes strengthening exercises?

Donkey Kicks

Lunges

The Best Stretches

So you’ve strengthened your glutes and you’re ready for that run, hike, rock climb, sports event… any activity requiring thigh extension, rotation, abduction and adduction under the control of aligned hips.  But before heading out, make sure you stretch!

Downward Dog Pose

Keeping It Happy

Now you’ve gone for that run, hike, rock climb, and sports event! The easy exercises listed above have become routine – either that or you’ve been rocking the treadmill, elliptical, spin bike, and stair stepper at the gym! Your gluteal strength and endurance is through the roof, but now your buttock muscles are short and hyper-contracted… all knotted up, at risk for injury if they aren’t loosened!

A combination of different massage modalities can be very effective for tight glutes. Deep tissue and sports massage are commonly applied to this muscle group, and trigger point therapy is often paired with both techniques. The glutes are some of the most tender muscles in the entire body, being rife with trigger points that restrict blood flow to the muscle fibers. Trigger point therapy involves direct compression to a hyper-irritable nodule in the muscular tissue, pressing on the specific area until the spot releases and its sensitivity lessens.

As is the case with any tightened muscle group, there is always going to be an overstretched and weakened antagonist muscle group. When the gluteal muscles shorten and tighten, the hip flexors require strengthening. With the help of a bodywork professional, you can receive assisted stretching that targets your psoas and iliacus. You need your opposing muscle groups working properly!  If your glutes are too restricted to extend your hips and your iliopsoas is too weak to flex the hip, your pelvis can fall out of balance!

Now You Know!

Keep the pelvic tilts away with strong and mobile gluteal muscles!  Next time, we’ll talk about the importance of healthy quadriceps!

Resources

Garone, NDTR, Sarah . “Build Stronger Glutes: Exercises and Tips for a Stronger Butt.” Verywell Fit, 1 May 2023, www.verywellfit.com/how-to-build-stronger-glutes-7479694. Accessed 17 Oct. 2023.

Kenhub. “Iliopsoas Muscle.” Kenhub, Kenhub, 9 July 2012, www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/iliopsoas-muscle.

Nunez, Kirsten. “7 Easy Ways to Stretch Tight Glutes.” Healthline, 28 Jan. 2022, www.healthline.com/health/exercise-fitness/how-to-stretch-glutes.

Sendić MD, Gordana . “Gluteal Muscles.” Kenhub, 8 Sept. 2023, www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/gluteal-muscles.

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