Contents
Position
- Deep
Origin
- External surface of spina ischii
- External surface of obturator membrane
Insertion
- Trochanter major femur
- Medial surface
Main function
- Hip
- Lateral rotation
Secondary function
- Hip
- Abduction
- Pelvis
- Contralateral rotation
Nerve innervation
- Segmental
- L5-S2
- Peripheral
- Plexus sacralis
Arterial supply
- Inferior gluteal artery
Palpation
- Patient position
- Prone
- The superior gemellus muscle is deep and is difficult to palpate
- You can palpate the deep lateral rotator group, of which the superior gemellus is a part of, but it is difficult to seperate the superior gemellus
- Place your hand just lateral to the sacrum, halfway between the SIPS (spina iliaca posterior superior) and the apex of the sacrum
- Ask the patient to bend the knee to 90°
- Give resistance towards medial rotation, so that the patient is giving force towards lateral rotation
- Feel for the contraction of the lateral rotators
- NB! The lateral rotator group of the hip also consists of: quadratus femoris, obturator internus, obturator externus, piriformis and gemellus inferior
- It can be difficult to seperate between these muscles, but be aware that they all will be active during the movement
- Also the gluteus maximus is activated during this movement. If you perform too much pressure, it too will be activated
Strength test
- Patient position
- Sitting with 90° flexion of the knee with the leg hanging freely above the floor
- Place your one hand lateral on the patient's thigh on the side that is to be tested
- Use your opposite hand to give resistance to the patient
- Place the hand along the medial aspect of the calf and place the leg in a internal rotated position of the hip, so that the patient is giving force towards external rotation
- Note that this test also tests the quadratus femoris, obturator internus, obturator externus and gemellus inferior that are all lateral rotators of the hip