Gluteus+Medius

toc =Description = Gluteus medius is a fan shaped muscle located on the uppermost region on the posterior of the lower limb or the gluteal region. It originates from the gluteal surface of the ilium, between the anterior and posterior gluteal lines, under gluteus maximus and runs diagonally inferiorly and laterally to insert into the greater trochanter of the femur which is located on the lateral side of the femur beneath the head. Innervation to the muscle is supplied by the superior gluteal nerve and blood to the muscle is supplied by the superior gluteal artery. The actions of gluteus medius are medial rotation of the hip joint, abduction of the hip joint and preventing adduction of the thigh. It antagonizes the lateral rotator group. Every day actions of this muscle are to stabilize the pelvis when walking, moving side to side or standing on one foot.
 * Author: Mishka Ebrahim**

=Interactions and relations to other Muscles = Gluteus medius lies deep to the gluteus maximus and superficial to the gluteus minimus and these muscles are synergists of the gluteus medius when performing abduction of the hip. It is an antagonist of the adductor group, which includes adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, pectineus and gracilis. It also antagonizes the lateral rotator group, which includes piriformis, gemellus superior, obturator internus, gemellus inferior, obturator externus and quadratus femoris.

=Relevance to Occupational Therapy = Gluteus medius is involved in stabilizing the pelvis and damage to this muscle would mean that the person would have trouble walking and similar movements and the person would need crutches or a wheelchair in order to be mobile. The occupational therapist will focus on the current state of the person and also what they would like to achieve one day. The occupational therapist would be involved in showing and working on various ways of performing tasks independently while in the wheelchair or with crutches and at the same time strengthening the muscles so that walking unassisted could become possible. The occupational therapist would use occupation based intervention so that the person would be able to return to their regular schedule as soon as possible and be involved in tasks that they enjoy doing. The OT would do this by performing an activity analysis which assists OTs in identifying the movements required to perform the client’s chosen activity.

=Links to online interactive material = media type="youtube" key="f1LicdBuEoQ" height="315" width="560"

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