What is the obturator nerve

The obturator nerve arises from the lumbar plexus

What does the obturator nerve affect?

The obturator nerve (L2–L4) supplies the pectineus; adductor (longus, brevis, and magnus); gracilis; and external obturator muscles. This nerve controls adduction and rotation of the thigh.

How do you treat obturator nerve pain?

1. Above: Therapist performing soft tissue massage to the groin muscles.
2. Above: Soft tissue massage of the muscles and connective tissues around the groin by an experienced therapist.
3. Above: Progressive strengthening hip exercises supervised by experienced therapist.

What are the symptoms of obturator nerve damage?

• Numbness, reduced sensation, or abnormal sensation in the skin of the inner thigh.
• Pain that may extend down the inner thigh and is worsened by walking or spreading the legs.
• Weakness in adduction of the thigh.
• Gait and posture problems linked to loss of adduction ability.

What does the obturator nerve supply?

To sum up, the obturator provides motor innervation to the adductor longus, adductor brevis, gracilis, obturator externus and ischiocondylar part of adductor magnus muscle. Its cutaneous distribution covers the skin of the proximal part of the medial thigh, as well as the hip and knee joints.

What is obturator neuralgia?

Obturator neuralgia is an uncommon cause of medial thigh pain that does not extend below the knee and occurs most often after trauma. Pelvic fractures, gunshot wounds, and occasionally childbirth have been implicated in the evolution of obturator neuralgia.

What does obturator pain feel like?

Obturator neuropathy is a difficult clinical problem to evaluate. One possible cause of pain is due to fascial entrapment of the nerve. Symptoms include medial thigh or groin pain, weakness with leg adduction, and sensory loss in the medial thigh of the affected side.

How do you treat an obturator Internus pain?

The obturator internus tendon sheath and bursa were injected with 2.5 ml of 0.5% lidocaine combined with 10 mg of triamcinolone. The patient reported immediate complete relief of pain with continued relief at 2 and 6 months post-injection.

Can massage Help obturator neuropathy?

Clinical relevance: The presented massage procedure is an effective therapy in obturator nerve dysfunction as complication after alloplasty and it can be one of elements of complex improvement after surgical joint procedures within the scope of nursing rehabilitation.

What is the obturator test for?

The obturator test is a physical test of inflammation in the region of the obturator internus muscle. The usual cause is an inflamed appendix on the right side. The test is positive if pain is elicited on flexion of the hip and rotation internally.

Article first time published on

Where is the obturator located?

The internal obturator is situated partly within the lesser pelvis, and partly at the back of the hip-joint. It functions to help laterally rotate femur with hip extension and abduct femur with hip flexion, as well as to steady the femoral head in the acetabulum.

Between what two muscles is the obturator nerve?

Descends in a plane between the adductor longus and adductor brevis (towards the femoral artery). Here, it supplies motor fibres to the adductor longus, adductor brevis and gracilis. It can also supply the pectineus muscle. It then pierces the fascia lata to become the cutaneous branch of the obturator nerve.

What passes through obturator canal?

The obturator canal is formed between the obturator membrane and the pelvis. The obturator artery, obturator vein, and obturator nerve all travel through the canal.

What is the root value of obturator nerve?

The obturator nerve originates from the anterior divisions of the L2, L3, and L4 spinal nerve roots. It descends through the fibers of the psoas major, and emerges from its medial border near the brim of the pelvis.

What nerve is in groin?

Meralgia paresthetica is caused by irritation of the nerve, most commonly from entrapment. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, which runs through the pelvis, groin and into the thighs, can become compressed due to swelling, trauma or pressure in the surrounding areas.

How do I strengthen my obturator Externus?

Grab the right knee with both hands and pull it toward the left shoulder until feeling the stretch. Hold the stretch for thirty seconds. Repeat on the opposite side. Perform this stretch three times a week.

What causes tight obturator Internus?

The obturator internus can become tensioned or spasmed from overworking, muscle imbalances, injuries, and postural changes. Some symptoms of obturator internus muscle tension include: Hips that feel tight and your feet always seem to be rotated out.

What is an obturator in urology?

The obturator nerve is a mixed nerve with motor and sensory fibers. It arises from the anterior primary rami of L2, L3 and L4 in the lumbar plexus. It is a large nerve, which descends vertically within the psoas major muscle, before emerging from the inner border of the muscle in the abdomen.

How do you stretch the obturator internus?

Obturator internus stretch: In standing, bring your left knee up on a table keeping your back leg straight. Lean forward until you feel a stretch in glute area. Hold for 30 seconds, repeat 2x/daily.

How do you release a trapped nerve in your groin?

1. Stand upright and put the leg on the side that feels pinched behind your other leg.
2. Move your hip outward and lean to the opposite side.
3. Extend the arm on the side of the affected part of the groin above your head and stretch it toward that side of your body.
4. Hold this position for up to 20 seconds.

What is obturator muscle?

The obturator internus is the deep muscle of hip joint which is part of lateral wall of pelvis. It is found in the superior inner side of the obturator membrane.

How do I strengthen my obturator Internus?

The obturator internus also needs to be reinforced with exercise. Reinforcing it in an-open chain position is great for sports performance, and using a closed-chain position is very effective for pumping, which also benefits the organs and glands of the pelvis.

Can you palpate the obturator Externus?

The OI is palpated internally with an examining finger angling out toward the hip. You can see the palpation here on my lovely pelvic model. The OI can also be palpated by examining medial to the ischial tuberosity, then angling in toward the obturator foramen.

What does obturator Externus do?

The mechanical model demonstrated that the primary action of the obturator externus muscle was to externally rotate the femur when the hip was in neutral position and flexed at 90°. Its secondary function was as an adductor when the hip was in flexion.

How do I know if I have psoas pain?

Pain in the lumbosacral region (the border between the lower part of the spine and the buttocks that can radiate up to lumbar vertebrae or down to the sacrum) when sitting or particularly when changing positions arising for sitting to standing. Difficulty/pain when trying to stand in a fully upright posture.

Which muscle is partially paralyzed with the obturator nerve damage?

Because the adductors are innervated by the obturator nerve, an animal adopts a base-wide stance or, in recumbency, a sitting position with both hindlimbs extended forward. There is considerable risk that the adductor muscles will be damaged and that permanent recumbency will result.

What nerve Innervates the Pectineus?

Pectineus is predominately innervated by the femoral nerve (L2, L3)]. However, in some people pectineus may receive innervation from two separate nerves of the lumber plexus. This composite innervation reflects the dual compartmentalisation of pectineus into both the anterior and medial compartments of the thigh.

What is the origin of the obturator?

OriginPosterior surface of the obturator membrane; bony boundaries of the obturator foramenInsertionMedial surface of greater trochanter of femurActionExternal rotation of extended thigh; Abduction of flexed thigh; Stabilization of hip jointInnervationNerve to obturator internus (L5 and S1)