27/05/2026
Hips don’t lie: Have you ever heard of the gluteus medius? It is primarily responsible for abduction – moving the leg out to the side – and for stabilising the pelvis whilst walking.
Today, a gentleman comes to my TCM practice with a pulling pain in his left hip, which radiates down into his thigh. He has been given the go-ahead by his doctor for Tuina treatment. The functional test reveals that the gluteus medius is tender and restricted in its function. The TCM case history: Qi-Stagnation in the Dai Mai (Belt Vessel), caused by Gallbladder-Qi-Stagnation (pelvic misalignment) and decades of sedentary work and being overweight. The noticeable coldness in the Dai Mai is not due to a Yang deficiency of the Kidneys, but simply to lack of circulation of Qi and Blood. The feet and toes are, in fact, warm. Furthermore, the client is more of an excess than a deficiency type, but very balanced and hardly sensitive to pain.
An extensive Tuina treatment with firm techniques (Rou Fa, An Fa, Gun Fa, Na Nie Fa, Cuo Fa, Ba Shen Fa) restores the flow in the Sinew channels of the Gallbladder, Bladder and Stomach. Afterwards, cupping (Ba Guan) is the treatment of choice to resolve the blood stasis that caused the pain. The dark marks indicate where the most blood stasis was. Finally, there are two exercises for home to improve the mobility of the hip joint (ball-and-socket joint) and strengthen the gluteus medius – that’s it.
Get well soon,
Monica