You Might Have 'Dead Glutes' And Not Even Know It – Even If You Exercise

You’ll probably want to stand up while you read this…

On Assignment For HuffPost

You’ll probably want to stand up while you read this.

While we all know that sitting all day is linked to all kinds of conditions – back pain, neck pain, bad posture, carpal tunnel and more – it can also cause problems for a less-talked-about part of your body: your buttocks.

Many folks notice butt numbness or pain after sitting all day long, which is a common health issue known officially as gluteal amnesia but is also referred to as “dead glute syndrome” or “dead butt syndrome”.

In dead glute syndrome, your gluteal muscles start to weaken, said Arlen Ray, a physical therapist and director of outpatient physical and occupational therapy at Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in New Jersey.

This happens because of lifestyle, often in people who sit for prolonged periods, Ray said.

“So, basically, what happens is the glute doesn’t activate, you have tightness in the hip flexors and the hamstrings,” Ray noted.

“Oftentimes, when you’re sitting for long periods of time, your iliopsoas is shortened because it’s held in a tight position, and your gluteus medius becomes weak because it’s not really being asked to do anything in that seated position,” said Dr. Jennifer O’Connell, a physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

As time goes on, this weakness can cause damage to the tendon, O’Connell added.........

© HuffPost