Posterior Pain
Posterior hip pain (see Table 4) is the least common pain pattern, and it usually suggests a source outside the hip joint. Posterior pain is typically referred from such disorders of the lumbar spine as degenerative disc disease, facet arthropathy, and spinal stenosis. Posterior hip pain is also caused by disorders of the sacroiliac joint, hip extensor and external rotator muscles, or, rarely, aortoiliac vascular occlusive disease.
| Disorder | Presentation and exam findings | |
|---|---|---|
| Posterior pain | Referred pain from lumbar spine | History of low back pain |
| Pain reproduced with isolated lumbar flexion or extension | ||
| Radicular symptoms or history consistent with spinal stenosis | ||
| Sacroiliac joint dysfunction | Controversial diagnosis | |
| Posterior hip or buttocks pain usually in runners | ||
| Pelvic asymmetry found on exam | ||
| Hip extensor or rotator muscle strain | History of overuse or acute injury | |
| Pain with resisted muscle testing | ||
| Tender over gluteal muscles |