Tightening reaction in gluteal area

[It Girl]

Some of my clients exhibit this, and today one asked about it... a particular sensitivity to pressure while working the glutes, resulting in involuntary contraction. For this client, it was just inferior to piriformis, perhaps another rotator.

I've had clients report not noticing at all, but for this client the experience was uncomfortable.

As I worked with it slowly, the reacting subsided... client said after that every massage therapist he's seen has worked with it, and it doesn't seem to change. It almost feels nerve related to him, like a reflex.

Any insights/similar experiences?

 

[Sam?]

I don't have any real insights, but I have seen this frequently. My most basic guess would be that is area is just more sensitive and on *most* people doesn't require as deep work as directly on the piriformis or superior to it. I myself have sensitivity in this area that results in instinctive tightening. My other guess would be that most of us don't have enough feeling and/or awareness in this area to make it conscious, at least not at first.

We're all tight asses!

 

[mmjjff80]

This actually happens to me. I don't know if it is the result of the way I walked post knee surgery... I couldn't clear the floor so I had to circumduct my hip to walk, and especially up stairs. I never had a massage prior to this so I don't know if I had "tight @ss syndrome" before or as a result of the knee issues. It then got worse post car accident with definite lumbar/sacral nerve damage. As soon as she does any work on my glutes/piriformis/lateral rotators... I clamp down and am in agony.

 

[chellithangam]

My guess is that it has to do with the condition of the muscle/connective tissue and the myotatic reflex.

 

[Marc C]

Interesting. Any advice on approaches?

 

[moonlight smile xxx]

I came across this from another thread:

I have a nice shot of piriformis a ways into my second DVD, which shows it sharing the tendonous aponeurosis with the neighboring layer of muscle tissue: one muscle, one grand twisty tie balloon, with many fascial compartmentalizations created most often by neurovascular penetrations of the layer or transitions of the bony form. Some day I'll have to pull that and toss it up on my gallery...always something to do!

http://massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12050

And I was thinking that this area of our body is so complex and powerful and on most of us it's also very weak, perhaps shortened, but with it all wrapping up together in a bundle with it's attachment, it's so easy to be set off as a group. There's so much rehabilitation that needs to occur here on most of us. I came across this gem in my notes:

Five Seforum.xxxes of Rehabilitation:

1) Eliminate Hyper-contractions in Tissue (manual therapy)
2) Restore Proper Bio-mechanics (movement therapy)
3) Restore Flexibility (stretching)
4) Rebuild Strength of Injured Tissue (resistance training)
5) Rebuild Endurance (aerobic training)

My approach right now would be slow firm constant pressure at the attachment site to work with the Golgi Tendon organs. Then maybe compression and slow deep friction in the belly if it's tolerable (client must breathe into it and not check out). Then ROM, and long held stretch. Perhaps MET.

But for lasting results the client would have to look at other factors like stretching, exercise, and diet.

Or there is, quite simply, Yoga. t049

 

[Wayne A]

Or there is, quite simply, Yoga.

Indeed.

Thanks for the notes!

 

[SassyB]

My guess is that it has to do with the condition of the muscle/connective tissue and the myotatic reflex.

True, but I also think it is because it is an area that is not touched very often. Remember when we were kids...we wouldn't even touch the seat of a chair because someone's butt had been on it? Come on, admit it.

Ways to approach/get around/help? Go in slow and gentle, with clear intentions. Probably just what you are doing, right? Good luck

 

[Jason]

Tightening reaction in gluteal area

Some of my clients exhibit this, and today one asked about it... a particular sensitivity to pressure while working the glutes, resulting in involuntary contraction. For this client, it was just inferior to piriformis, perhaps another rotator.

I've had clients report not noticing at all, but for this client the experience was uncomfortable.

As I worked with it slowly, the reacting subsided... client said after that every massage therapist he's seen has worked with it, and it doesn't seem to change. It almost feels nerve related to him, like a reflex.

Any insights/similar experiences?

Sacrotuberous Ligament?

 

[Ms. Tay]

Adults who were excessively "disciplined" as children will also have this involutary reaction, as that is an emotionally vulnerable area.

 

[Highlands Emma de Milo]

Thank you folks. I saw this client again today and the work in this area went much better. I worked slowly along the border of the sacrum and around the trochanter with the intention to "reset" the muscles.

Much less of the unwanted response, and I was able to then do the rest of the deep tissue work properly. Client reported after that the work felt much better, too.