Do you have a pain where your rear-end meets the back of your upper thigh?
This area is also known as the glute-hamstring tie-in or junction. What could be causing pain there?
“Pain in the buttocks can be attributed to a wide variety of issues, such as nerve entrapment, bursitis, spinal pathology, tendonitis, and partial or complete hamstring injuries,” says Reggie Alexander, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Orthopaedic Specialists in Los Angeles, CA.
“Taking a good history and teasing out whether or not there are neurologic symptoms can help distinguish between an entrapped nerve versus muscle or tendon pathology.”
A mechanical cause of discomfort or pain where the butt muscles merge with the upper hamstrings is that of repeatedly decelerating very quickly from a hard run, as you might do when doing fast running intervals on a treadmill or in a parking lot.
You should never stop abruptly! Always gradually decelerate, taking at least 12 seconds. How do I know?
It happened to me: pain in the gluteus maximus hamstring junction from abrupt cessation of treadmill sprints.
Competitive sprinters never stop abruptly after a false start is called. They gradually decelerate, taking their time.
They know that a sudden stop from a burst of speed can injure the muscles.
“Resting after the initial injury can be helpful,” says Dr. Alexander, regarding injuries in general to this area.
“Other possible solutions include anti-inflammatory agents, stretching and physical therapy once the initial pain subsides.”
