Origin
Ilium – gluteal surface, sacrum, lumbar fascia, sacrotuberous ligament.
Insertion
Femur – gluteal tuberosity, iliotibial tract.
Blood supply
Superior gluteal artery, inferior gluteal artery.
Nerve supply
Inferior gluteal nerve.
Action
It helps in external rotation and swinging your leg forward.
Disease/Injury
It may cause pain on prolonged sitting. An attack of sciatica can also give rise to pain in the gluteus maximus of the affected side.
Muscle exercise
The best exercise to strengthen the gluteus maximus muscle is squats. You can also practice gluteus bridges. Lie down on your back with bent knees and hips lifted off the floor. Squeeze the gluteus muscle while in this position and then lower your hips onto the floor. Repeat 10 times.
Interesting facts
Injection is usually given in gluteus maximus muscle. In a bedridden patient, the bed sores involve mainly the gluteus maximus muscle.
