In this rendering by Primal Pictures, the gemellus may be difficult to locate. The muscle at the top (it’s cut off by the border) is the quadratus lumborum. Below that angling diagonally toward the hip bone is the piriformis. Below the piriformis, laying almost horizontally, is the gemellus.

The gemellus, along with the piriformis, are part of the “deep six”, a group of hip muscles responsible for external rotation. If you can kick a soccer ball with the inside part of your foot it’s because you can externally rotate your hip. Sitting cross legged also requires the strength to externally rotate. (It also requires flexibility in the adductors, another topic.)

Trigger points that develop in the gemellus can be expected to behave like trigger points in the piriformis. Hip pain and a pain in the butt would be common. Lost range of motion (hip rotation) could follow if treatment was incomplete. In order for a massage therapist to access the gemellus, she’ll have to work through the gluteus maximus, a large muscle that lays superfically on top of the deep six.

Tags: Muscle Detective, Pain Relief, Trigger Points

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