What is Gluteal Strain
Gluteal strain happens when the muscles in the buttocks (gluteal muscles) are overstretched or torn.
A tear can be partial or complete. A gluteal strain can cause pain and stiffness in your buttocks, legs, and lower back. A strain might be referred to as “pulling a muscle.”
The severity of a gluteal strain is rated in degrees. First-degree strains have the least amount of muscle tearing and pain. Second-degree and third-degrees strains have increasingly more tearing and pain.
What are the causes?
There are many possible causes of gluteal strain, such as:
- Stretching the muscles too far.
- Putting too much stress on the muscles before they are warmed up.
- Overusing the muscles.
- Repetitive muscle movements over long periods of time.
- Injury.
What increases the risk?
This condition is more likely to develop in:
- People who are in cold weather.
- People who are physically tired.
- People with poor strength and flexibility.
- People who do not warm up properly before physical activity.
- People who do exercises or play sports with sudden bursts of activity.
- People who have poor exercise technique.
What are the signs or symptoms?
Symptoms of this condition include:
- Pain in the buttocks, especially when moving the legs. Pain may spread to the lower back or the legs.
- Bruising and swelling of the buttocks.
- Tenderness, weakness, or stiffness in the buttocks.
- Muscle spasms.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition is diagnosed based on a physical exam and medical history. Your health care provider may do some range of motion exercises with you. You may have tests, such as MRI or X-rays.
Your strain may be rated based on how severe it is. The ratings are:
- Grade 1 strain (mild). Your muscles are overstretched. You might have very small muscle tears. This type of strain generally heals in about 1 week.
- Grade 2 strain (moderate). Your muscles are partially torn. This may take 1 to 2 months to heal.
- Grade 3 strain (severe). Your muscles are completely torn. A severe strain can take more than three months to heal. Grade 3 gluteal strains are rare.
How is this treated?
Treatment for this condition includes resting, icing, and raising (elevating) the injured area as much as possible. Your health care provider may recommend over-the-counter pain medicines. If your gluteal strain is severe or very painful, your health care provider may prescribe pain medicines or physical therapy. Surgery for severe strains is rare.
Follow these instructions at home:
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
- Do notdrive or operate heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
- Return
to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your
health care provider what activities are safe for you.
- Rest your gluteal muscles as much as possible, especially for the first 2–3 days.
- Begin exercising or stretching as told by your health care provider.
- If
directed, apply ice to the injured area:
- Put ice in a plastic bag.
- Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
- Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times per day.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
How is this prevented?
- Warm up and stretch before physical activity.
- Stretch after physical activity.
- Learn and use correct techniques for exercising and playing sports.
- Avoid difficult physical activities if your muscles are tired or sore.
- Strengthen your gluteal muscles and the surrounding muscles.
- Develop your flexibility by stretching at least once a day.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You have pain or swelling that gets worse or does not get better with medicine.
- You have “shooting” pain that moves through your leg.
Get help right away if:
- You develop weakness in part of your body.
- You lose feeling in part of your body.
- You have severe pain.
- You are unable to walk.
- You have difficulty controlling your bladder or bowel movements.
