Trigger points trps also known as muscle knots are a common cause of stubborn aches and pains the gluteus maximus is a particularly massive and thick extensor muscle heavily recruited for stair climbing and jumping trigger points in large muscles like this seem to tolerate a lot of knotting up before you start to notice them the great majority of of low back pain patients unnecessarily fear that that their pain is related to structural problems and spinal fragility but much of the pain i