5 Stretches to Relieve Pain in Your Tailbone

A handful of stretches for your aching tailbone may decrease pressure and help relieve your symptoms.
Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages

Tailbone injuries are more than just a pain in the butt. Pain in this area can make it difficult to do basic daily tasks such as getting dressed or sitting in a chair. Although muscles don't directly connect to your tailbone, stretching muscles around the area can help relieve tailbone pain.

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Because tailbone injuries often occur with trauma — such as a fall — see a doctor before performing tailbone stretches if your tailbone hurts.

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Read more: Bruised Tailbone Remedies

Anal Lock

As strange as this exercise sounds, the anal lock relaxes tight muscles that contribute to tailbone pain.

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HOW TO DO IT: Lie down on your back. Squeeze your anal sphincter as if you are trying not to have a bowel movement. Hold this position for 10 seconds; then relax. Repeat three to five times in a row, several times per day.

Full-Body Bend

As you bend forward, the bones in your spine spread apart, relieving pressure on your tailbone.

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HOW TO DO IT: Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Bring your chin to your chest and slowly round your back. Bend your knees slightly to decrease tension in your leg muscles. Reach your hands toward your feet as far as possible, without pain. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds and repeat three times.

Piriformis Stretch

The piriformis muscle lies under your glutes and is a common source of hip pain and tightness. Tension in this muscle can contribute to tailbone pain. A commonly prescribed exercise is the piriformis stretch.

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HOW TO DO IT: Position yourself on your hands and knees. Cross your right leg in front of your left so your right shin is perpendicular to your body. Straighten your left knee behind you. Slowly push your butt backward and lower yourself onto your forearms. Stop when you feel a strong pull in your right buttock. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds and repeat three times on both legs.

Yoga poses can help relieve tailbone pain.
Image Credit: fizkes/iStock/GettyImages

Cat Pose

Try yoga for tailbone pain. The yoga cat pose gently separates the spine bones, making it another of the tailbone exercises that may provide you with some relief.

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HOW TO DO IT: Position yourself on your hands and knees. Breathe in. As you breathe out, bring your chin to your chest and slowly arch your back toward the ceiling until you feel a stretch along your spine. As you breathe in, return to the starting position. Repeat for several breaths.

Child's Pose

Child's pose is another common yoga position that stretches the lower spine and tailbone area, and thus may provide relief if your tailbone hurts.

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HOW TO DO IT: Position yourself on your hands and knees. Bring your big toes together and spread your knees apart. Sit back on your heels. Slowly bend your chest forward and lower it between your thighs until your forehead is resting on the ground. Keep your arms back by your sides. Hold this position for several breaths. If the stretch is too intense, place a small folded blanket between your butt and legs.

Read more: Causes of Pain in the Buttock Area

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