BACKGROUND

1. Illustration (Note, image is from behind looking forward.)

2. NY PT group website discussing obturator internus muscle (one of its main functions is to rotate the femur) - discussion of Trigger Points ( some fibers in a muscle involuntarily contract, which reduces blood flow in the area, affecting both the muscle and nerves. Pain, local and referred, results. OI muscle causes pain in various areas around hips and pelvis so causes lots of misdiagnosis. ZionPT

3. Another physical therapist with a great intro article

"The obturator internus can become tensioned or spasmed from overworking, muscle imbalances, injuries, and postural changes.

Some symptoms of obturator internus muscle tension include:


Hips that feel tight and your feet always seem to be rotated out
Lateral hip pain, can be mistaken for IT band syndrome/bursitis
Pain in the tailbone
Pain in the groin
Sit bone pain



The obturator internus has many pain referral sites. So symptoms can vary from one day to the next.

4. Discussion of OI muscle and of the nerves affected, with treatment being myofascial stretching plus strengthening exercises: OI discussion

"The pudendal nerve is really the key. It branches into three smaller nerves:


The inferior rectal nerve, supplying the rectum, skin and anal sphincter;
The perineal nerve, supplying the perineum, urethra, female vagina and labia, and male scrotum;
The dorsal nerve, supplying the clitoris or penis.


The sensory symptoms could manifest as itching, burning, tingling, cold sensations or shooting pains into the groin, abdomen, legs or buttocks.  The pudendal nerve is the only nerve that has both somatic (body) and autonomic fiber, meaning the person may not just suffer these localized discomforts, but also things like increased heart rate or blood pressure, constipation and overall sense of malaise.

STRETCHES and STRENGTHENING EXERCISES

OI Stretch (YouTube)

OI Stretch Link

Multiple OI exercises (YouTube)

Multiple exercises

More Exercises:

Additional Exercises

ADDITIONAL READING

Hip pelvis muscles

Muscles

blog on muscle issues related to osteoarthritus of hip:

Hip blog