7. Gluteus Medius

Origin: External surface of ilium between the anterior and posterior gluteal lines

Insertion: Lateral surface of the greater trochanter

Action:

  • Abducts the hip
  • Medial rotates the thigh
  • Stabilizes the pelvis when the other leg is lifted (Trendelenburg)

Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve (L5/S1)

Gluteus maximus, medius and minimus.
Figure 2.15 Gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus, adapted by Mikael Häggström from the original image by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Prone or side lying

Palpation: Palpate above the gluteus medius along and just inferior to the posterior iliac crest

Technique:

    1. Needle perpendicular to the gluteus medius muscle using the ilium as a bony backdrop
    2. Needle this muscle at its insertion at the greater trochanter

Caution: Low – the lower edge of the gluteus medius borders the piriformis muscle – The sciatic nerve runs under the piriformis muscles at approximately halfway through this muscle

Figure 2.16 Needling of gluteus medius, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.
Figure 2.17 Needling of gluteus medius, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 2.7 Needling of gluteus medius, original video by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

License

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Sinew Channel Needling Copyright © 2026 by Nadine Crocker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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