Pain, swelling, and limited mobility in the buttocks could mean you have a gluteal strain.
A study on gluteal tendinopathy also found that it affects 1.8 out of every 1,000 people a year and 20.2% of people around the world.
Let’s take a look at the top symptoms of a gluteal strain and how to get relief.
Gluteal Strain Symptoms
Common signs are swelling, bruising, limited movement, and localized pain in the bum area.
Recognize these symptoms early, and you can get medical attention sooner and prevent further complications.
1. Pain in the Bum Area
A gluteal strain usually presents as pain in the bum. This pain can be mild and dull or sharp and persistent even when you’re at rest. In severe cases you may feel intense pain that makes it difficult to move or sit comfortably.
During a physical exam, tenderness and warmth in the bum area is an indication of a problem.
2. Swelling and Bruising
Injuries to the gluteal muscles can damage muscle fibers and cause swelling and bruising.
These symptoms are part of your body’s inflammatory response to injury and fluid buildup and discoloration. Those on blood thinners will notice these more as there is more bleeding around the affected muscle.
Healthcare professionals will detect these signs during a physical exam and confirm a muscle strain in the gluteal area.
3. Limited Movement
Another sign of a gluteal strain is limited movement. This injury can affect the hip joint’s mobility and make daily activities difficult. Even simple tasks like walking or climbing stairs can be hard with hip pain and limited range of motion.
Having an injured gluteus maximus can limit your freedom of movement.
Common Causes of Gluteal Strains
These injuries are caused by sudden movements, overuse, or direct trauma.
Any of these can put too much pressure on the glute muscles and cause injury.
Sudden Movements
Rapid and forceful movements, such as sudden starts or stops during physical activities, can cause gluteal muscle strains.
Sudden bursts of speed and quick changes of direction can overstretch muscle fibers and cause tears and pain.
Athletes should be aware of these risks and take precautions to avoid them.
Overuse Injuries
Overuse injuries occur when the gluteal muscles are subjected to repeated stress without rest. Activities like running, cycling, and even standing for long periods can cause these injuries. A sudden increase in activity, such as sprinting after a period of inactivity, can easily cause a gluteal strain.
Direct Trauma
Getting hit or falling on your bum can cause muscle injuries. These can occur from landing on your bum during falls or impacts in contact sports and cause immediate swelling and pain that needs medical attention.
Being aware of these trauma risks is important to prevent muscle injuries in this area.
Gluteal Strains Diagnosis
A thorough evaluation, including a review of your medical history and symptoms, is necessary to diagnose a gluteal strain. Physical exams and imaging tests will confirm the diagnosis.
Medical History Review
The first step in diagnosing a gluteal strain is reviewing the patient’s medical history. This helps in identifying potential risk factors and understanding the context of the injury.
A comprehensive medical history guides further assessment and treatment.
- Review your medical history.
- Identify risk factors.
- Understand the injury.
Physical Exam
During the physical exam, healthcare professionals will evaluate the severity of the gluteal strain by checking your lower back, hip muscles, and buttock muscles for warmth, swelling, tenderness, and range of motion.
This will include muscle strength tests and observations of specific actions like hip extension and external rotation.
These will help determine the severity of the muscle strain. The findings will guide your treatment options for the muscles around the hip area.
Imaging Tests
MRI and ultrasound will show you the injury and confirm strains and soft tissue damage.
Treatments for Gluteal Strains
To treat gluteal strains is to restore function and relieve pain. Treatment includes rest, ice therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and physiotherapy.
Each one is important for the healing process.
Rest and Activity Modification
Rest is key to recovery; let your body heal from the gluteal strain. Modify activities to prevent further strain while still allowing some movement.
Don’t make it worse; balance rest with modified movements for optimal recovery.
Ice Therapy
In the first few days after the injury, ice therapy is very effective in reducing swelling and inflammation. Cold will relieve pain and stiffness so it’s the first line of treatment for gluteal strains.
Try this simple solution to your discomfort.
Anti-inflammatory Medication
Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen will help with pain and swelling from gluteal strains. By reducing inflammation, these will give you comfort and speed up the healing process.
Physiotherapy
Physio is important for gluteal strains; it focuses on improving flexibility, muscle activation, and strengthening through specific exercises.
Early intervention will involve gentle stretching, joint mobilizations, and massage to promote symmetrical movement without pain. The ultimate goal is to restore strength, endurance, and power in the affected muscles through specific physio techniques.
Gluteal strain patients should do home exercises and progressive loading. These are important for tissue adaptation and symptom management.
How to Prevent Gluteal Strains
A study has shown that about 10 to 25 percent of people have this condition, which is also known as greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Women over 50 are more likely to have it than men.
To avoid injuries like gluteal strains, include stretching exercises, strengthening programs, and warm-ups in your daily routine. This will keep your muscles healthy and injury free.
Stretching Exercises
Physio includes specific stretching exercises like seated figure-four stretch and standing quad stretch to maintain muscle length and flexibility. These will reduce pain and prevent further injury by keeping your gluteal muscles flexible.
Strengthening Programs
Strengthening programs are important to strengthen the gluteal muscles and prevent re-injury.
Exercises targeting the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus, like single-leg deadlifts and side-lying leg lifts, will improve stability and strength.
Bridges and squats will add to your gluteal strength.
Proper Warm-up Techniques
Doing dynamic warm-up exercises will increase blood flow to the muscles and reduce the risk of strains.
By doing dynamic stretches before activities, you’ll ensure your gluteal muscles are ready and primed and reduce the risk of injury.
Including leg swings and other dynamic movements in your warm-up will help a lot.
Recovery Timeline for Gluteal Strains
Recovery time for gluteal strains varies depending on the severity of the injury.
Mild strains will resolve in a few days to a week; moderate to severe will take weeks to months to heal.
Mild Strains
Less severe, mild glute strains typically heal rapidly, usually recovering within a few days and resolving completely with proper rest and care by one week.
Moderate Strains
Moderate glute strains will take several weeks to recover. These will affect your ability to move and do daily activities, so having a rehab plan is important.
Severe Strains
Severe glute strains will take several months to heal and may require surgery. Recovery time can be beyond 4-6 weeks depending on the severity of the injury and your individual healing capacity.
The extent of the injury and your overall health will determine the recovery.
Final Thoughts on Gluteal Strain Symptoms
As you can see, a gluteal strain causes localized pain, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility. Recognize these symptoms early and you’ll recover faster.
Also, the most common causes of gluteal strains are sudden movements, overuse injuries, and direct trauma.
Moreover, treatment is rest, ice therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and physiotherapy. Recovery time can be a few days to several months depending on the severity of the strain.
