The first thing we are going to do, before delving into the meaning of the term ischium, is to know its etymological origin. In this case, we can emphasize that it is a word that derives from Greek, specifically from “iskhion”, which refers to the hip joint and is formed from the following lexical components:
-The noun “ixys”, which is synonymous with “waist”.
-The suffix “-ion”, which is used to indicate diminutive.
The ischium is the bone that, joined to the pubis and the ilium (or ileum ), makes up the innominate bone .
The innominate bones are found in the hips , forming the pelvis with the coccyx and the sacrum . In the case of the ischium, it constitutes its posterior sector.
It is important to mention that ischium is a serious word that, due to its accentuation, does not have an accent. In any case, it is common for confusion to arise and for many to refer to ischium , with an accent in the O.
Two parts are recognized in the ischium: the body and the ramus (inferior and superior). In the posterior and superior region of the ramus, the ischium promontory appears, also known as the ischial tuberosity . This bulge establishes the lower opening of the pelvis in conjunction with the tip of the tailbone.
When sitting, a person should rest on the sit bones, or more precisely on the ischial tuberosity. This position is considered the healthiest, since it guarantees a balanced position of the pelvis. On the contrary, when someone sits on the sacrum or coccyx, the physiological curve of the lumbar spine is violated and the hamstring muscles are shortened, a situation that can cause contractures and the appearance of pain.
In the same way, there is another series of interesting facts about the ischium that are very attractive:
-Next to it are the quadratus femoris muscle, the sciatic nerve and the so-called hamstrings, which are the tendons of the knee flexor muscles.
-The aforementioned tendons that are linked to the aforementioned ischium can be damaged by different ailments and health problems. Specifically, among the most frequent injuries they suffer are hamstring syndrome, tendinopathy and even so-called tendon ruptures.
-With different Pilates exercises we aim to strengthen and improve the condition of the hamstrings.
To all of the above we must add that in the medical field we also talk about ischiofemoral impingement. This is a pain of a certain intensity that occurs as a result of contact that is not normal between the aforementioned ischium bone and the so-called lesser trochanter. The treatment will consist of taking anti-inflammatories and analgesics as well as physical therapy.
In yoga, emphasis is often placed on the importance of recognizing the ischium to adopt a suitable posture. The objective is to minimize disorders in the coccyx, sacrum, lumbar area, cervical region and shoulders, all sectors that can be harmed by poor body postures.