Get Off Your Glutes

By Naperville Magazine
Appears in the October 2018 issue.

By Christine Litwicki

Our daily lives include constant sitting, which causes lazy glutes, or “gluteal amnesia”: The butt muscles “forget” how to activate properly and become underused (read: weak), putting more pressure on the back and lower body. Have lower back, hip, or knee pain? Tight hip flexors and weak glutes might be the culprit. The good news? The amnesia is reversible, but you have to (literally) work your butt off. Here are six ways to keep these important muscles in shape.

The Goal To activate and strengthen glutes

The Plan Perform two rounds of 20 repetitions of each exercise

Rear-End Role Although the gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the body—and is responsible for a booty’s shape—it’s just one of three muscles of the hip, acting together with the medius and minimus as the base of support for the pelvis and hips. This muscle group helps power through many daily activities, from walking and carrying heavy things, to rising from a seated position and climbing stairs.

[table id=Move1018-1 /]