Gluteus maximus
Body region：Hip and buttock
Buttock ache, weakness when getting up
Function
Originates from behind the iliac bone, the sacrum and the coccyx, and inserts at the gluteal tuberosity of the femur and the iliotibial band. Extends and externally rotates the hip.
Common causes
Prolonged sitting causes the buttock muscles to switch off, and excessive stairs, running and jumping.
Massage and stretching
- Ball press on the buttock
- Supine knee hug
Related acupoints
- Huantiao (GB30)：Outer buttock, in the depression above the back of the greater trochanter (easy to find with the hip flexed while lying on the side)
- Zhibian (BL54)：Upper buttock, about 3 cun lateral to the sacrum
Related meridians
Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang、Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang
Posture and muscle patterns
When to see a doctor：Leg numbness or weakness, or tingling that extends to the calf: see a doctor to rule out a lumbar cause.