Do you Suffer from Gluteal Amnesia?

There is a new phenomenon being seen across the country…patients suffering from gluteal amnesia.  Yes, you read that right…gluteal amnesia!  If you are suffering from consistent knee, lower back, shoulder, or groin injuries, you could be suffering from gluteal amnesia.

What the heck is gluteal amnesia?  Simply, the gluteal muscles forget what they need to do!  The gluteal muscles, which are the gluteus maximus, gluteus minimus, and the gluteus medius, control movement at the hip.  More specifically, the gluteus maximus is important in extension and slows the hip during walking and running.  A job, just as important, is that the gluteus maximus helps maintain and upright torso.

Your muscles have memory and through repetition remember your activities. If you have consistent exercise program your muscles know exactly how to react, but it you have a sedentary lifestyle they long what to do!  When you sit for long periods of time you are not using your gluteal muscles and this leads to the amnesia.  This inactivity will also cause muscle imbalances and tightness in the hip flexors which further cause an inhibition of your gluteal muscles.

This sedentary lifestyle leads to weakness and increased muscle tightness in your hips which will limit the range of motion of your hips, leading to misalignment and stress to your knees, low back, and even should girdle.  Some of the common injuries resulting from gluteal amnesia can patellofemoral syndrome (PFS), iliotibial band syndrome (ITB), lumbar disc herniation, and even rotator cuff strains.

How can you change this situation? Following these simple steps can return your gluteal memory and reduce pain and immobility.  Prevent yourself from being sedentary during the day by taking breaks from sitting every 30-60 minutes.  Something as small as a 30 second change in body position will be extremely helpful.  Core strength/stability and pelvic mobility are essential to maintain healthy gluteals.  Ensure core strengthening is part of your everyday work out program.  Also, a simple strengthen program to lengthen the hip flexors and hamstrings to prevent inhibition of the gluteal muscles.  Your physical therapist is an expert in human movement and function, they are the specialists to return your body to proper function!  Click here to schedule your FREE consultation to see how we can help!

Intecore Physical Therapy started as the premier physical therapy in Foothill Ranch, and was formerly known as Foothill Ranch Physical Therapy.  As we grew, and we added our sister location Aliso Ranch Physical Therapy, we decided to change our name to Intecore Physical Therapy.  Intecore is the combination of two words:  INTEgrity and CORE values.  The integrity in how we treat our patients and the CORE values that all of us strive to live by, better embody the true meaning of our existence.

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Andrew Vertson

Andrew received his Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from California State University, Fresno in 1991. He then earned his Master’s degree of Physical Therapy in 1996 and his Doctorate degree of Physical Therapy in 2002 from Loma Linda University. In 1996 he also earned his Certification as an Athletic Trainer. He has also completed extensive post-graduate course work in orthopedic manual therapy through Kaiser-West Los Angeles and the Ola Grimsby Institute.

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