The gluteal muscles are the three muscles that make up the buttocks: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. The gluteus maximus' (or glutæus maximus) is the largest and most Superficial of the three Gluteal muscles. The gluteus medius (or glutæus medius) one of the three Gluteal muscles, is a broad thick radiating muscle situated on the outer surface of the Pelvis The gluteus minimus (or glutæus minimus) the smallest of the three Gluteal muscles, is situated immediately beneath the Gluteus medius.
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The gluteal muscles
The gluteus maximus is the uppermost of the three muscles. It is the largest of the gluteal muscles and one of the strongest muscles in the human body (see Muscle). Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Human anatomy, which with physiology and biochemistry is a complementary basic medical science is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the adult Human body Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the It inserts at the iliotibial band and the gluteal tuberosity of the femur. The iliotibial tract or iliotibial band (or Maissiat's band is a longitudinal fibrous reinforcement of the Fascia lata. In anatomy a tubercle is a round Nodule, small Eminence, or Warty outgrowth found on Bones skin or within the lungs in Tuberculosis The femur is the thigh bone In Humans, it is the longest, most voluminous and strongest Bone. Its action is to extend and outwardly rotate hip, and extend the trunk.
Powerlifting exercises which are known to significantly strengthen the gluteus maximus include the squat and the deadlift. Powerlifting is a strength Sport, consisting of three events the squat, the Bench press, and the Deadlift. The squat is a lower body exercise used in Strength training. The deadlift is a Weight training Exercise where one lifts a loaded Barbell (or in the case of the trapbar deadlift a loaded Trapbar) The leg press also uses the gluteus maximus. The leg press is a Weight training Exercise in which the individual pushes a weight away from them using their legs
Problems associated with the gluteal muscles
Sitting for long periods can lead to the gluteal muscles atrophying through constant pressure and disuse. This may be associated with (although not necessarily the cause of) lower back pain, difficulty with some movements that naturally require the gluteal muscles, such as rising from the seated position, and climbing stairs. Some attribute severe menstrual cycles including mood swings and irritability to gluteal muscle atrophy, however, there are a vast array of known contributors to dysmenorrhoea, and currently clinical evidence of such a causative association is lacking. Dysmenorrhea (or dysmenorrhoea) is a medical condition characterized by severe Uterine Pain during Menstruation.
The bulk of the gluteal muscle mass contributes only partially to shape of the buttocks. The other major contributing factor is that of the panniculus adiposus of the buttocks, which is very well developed in this area, and gives the buttock its characteristic rounded shape. The panniculus adiposus is part of the Subcutaneous tissue It is a fatty layer deep to the Skin. Although the gluteal muscle bulk and tone can be improved with massage and exercise, it is the disposition of the overlying panniculus adiposus which may be responsible for the "sagging butt" phenomenon.
Treatment
Studies have shown that exercise and massage are effective at reversing and protecting against atrophy of these muscles. Atrophy is the partial or complete Wasting away of a part of the Body. Poisoning by eating Lathyrus sativus Indian Pea or khesari dhal will lead to emaciation of Buttock muscles (Neurolathyrism). Lathyrus sativus, is a Legume (family Fabaceae commonly grown for human consumption and Livestock feed in Asia and East Africa Lathyrism or Neurolathyrism is a neurological disease of humans and domestic animals caused by eating certain Legumes of the Genus Lathyrus
Exercise and stretching
Any exercise that works and/or stetches the buttocks is suitable, for example lunges, climbing stairs, fencing, bicycling, squats, arabesque, aerobics, and various specific exercises for the bottom. The lunge is a Weight training exercise that is used to strengthen the Quadriceps muscles, Gluteal muscles and the Fencing is the art of armed Combat involving Cutting, Stabbing, or slapping bludgeoning Weapons directly manipulated by hand Cycling is the use of Bicycles or - less commonly - Unicycles Tricycles Quadricycles and other similar wheeled Human powered vehicles The squat is a lower body exercise used in Strength training. A significant part of Ballet terminology is in the French language. Aerobics is a form of Physical exercise that combines rhythmic Aerobic exercise with Stretching and Strength training routines with the
Powerlifting exercises which are known to significantly strengthen the gluteal muscles include the squat and the deadlift. Powerlifting is a strength Sport, consisting of three events the squat, the Bench press, and the Deadlift. The squat is a lower body exercise used in Strength training. The deadlift is a Weight training Exercise where one lifts a loaded Barbell (or in the case of the trapbar deadlift a loaded Trapbar) Another weight training exercise involving the glutes is the leg press. Weight training is a common type of Strength training for developing the strength and size of Skeletal muscles It uses the Force of gravity The leg press is a Weight training Exercise in which the individual pushes a weight away from them using their legs
Massage
Gluteal exercise and stretching must be accompanied by therapeutic massage both in the relaxed muscle condition and during the neuron firing of muscle flexing and stretching. In order to properly restore the gluteal muscle group, the first step is to relax the entire neck, shoulders, arms and back region with massage. Once the patient's upper body is relaxed, effleurage (light but thorough stroking with fingers and palms) of the top, middle, bottom and side portions of the gluteal muscles (entire buttock and top thigh areas) is used to initiate the gluteal muscle group massage while the buttocks are in the relaxed condition with the patient lying face down with the hips slightly elevated, a pillow having been placed under the pelvis. Effleurage, a French word meaning "to skim" or "to touch lightly on" is a series of Massage strokes used in Swedish massage to warm up the Muscle The purpose of the effleurage is to fire the neurons near the surface of the muscle group. Attention should also be given to the gluteal fold, the crease where buttocks meet thighs, as this is a sensitive area where major muscles are joined.
At least 10 minutes of effleurage should be used before moving to a deeper muscle massage. Effleurage, a French word meaning "to skim" or "to touch lightly on" is a series of Massage strokes used in Swedish massage to warm up the Muscle Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the . . but only as the muscles loosen sufficiently. The top, middle and bottom areas of the buttocks as well as the tops and all sides of the thighs are massaged with increasing firmness in order to stimulate the neurons deeply embedded within the muscle group. Liberal amounts of massage lotion should be used as this area can require very deep massage as the muscles loosen and permit it.
Some massage schools reportedly teach the use of the double handed repetitive "chop" alternating with slapping of the maximus area. The chop fires the deeply embedded neurons while the slap fires the surface neurons. If this is done while the patient is alternately flexing and relaxing, the result is almost total neuron firing and should be followed up with additional effleurage to totally relax the muscle group. Obviously communication between therapist and patient is important at this stage.
Attention should be given to the gluteal fold with increasing pressure. This being a sensitve area, the therapist should communicate freely with the patient to determine the proper amount of pressure needed to relax these muscles. The therapist can simultaneously use both of his or her thumbs beginning in the middle where the thighs and buttocks meet, and slowing moving the thumbs outward and around the tops of the thighs to eventually use the fingers to massage the fold where thigh meets abdomen (another area where muscles are joined).
The two massage regimes (effleurage and deep muscle massage) are then repeated with the gluteal muscle group in the process of active neuron firing. That is, the areas should be massaged while the patient is actually performing the various exercises and stretches outlined above as well as others tailored by the therapist. It is reported that this results in exterior and interior neuron firing in such a way that the entire muscle group's shape, tension and overall health is restored rapidly. Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the A weekly cycle of massage is required to achieve good results.
See also
External links
- 8b. The Muscles and Fasciæ of the Thigh Bartleby. The gluteal sulcus (also known as the gluteal fold or horizontal gluteal crease) is an area of the body of Great apes including humans described by a horizontal com, Henry Gray, Anatomy of the Human Body, 1918.
- Glutes Stretch
References
McMinn, RMH (Ed) (1994) Last's Anatomy: Regional and applied (9th Ed). London: Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 0-443-04662-X
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