When I say the words Gluteus Maximus, what do you think of?
Russell Crowe in Gladiator?
Kim Kardashian?
Twerking (Myley Cyrus or worse Clive Palmer?)
Cameron Diaz (I like big butts, baby got back?)
Or… your bodies POWER HOUSE!
The Gluteal complex consists of many different muscles but the three you may have heard the most about is the Gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and the piriformis muscle.
The main function of the gluts is to keeps you upright, walking, running, moving from sitting to standing, stairs and squats.
The majority of the patients we see here at our Sydney CBD Bend + Mend clinic spend most of the day sitting at a desk. This causes the gluteal muscle to shrink due to constant pressure and disuse. Weak gluteal muscles can then be the cause of many aches, pains and injuries.
Give your gluts a little test…
1. Can you squeeze both of you butt cheeks at the same time…
2. Now try just tensing one side and then the other side separately…
How did you go?
Another test to check how your gluts are working is with a single leg squat…
Good Form on the left…Bad form on the right!
Have a look at yourself doing this in the mirror, can you keep your hips level?
Can you keep your knee in line with your second toe?
If you can, all is well with your gluts!
If not…they may need some attention!!
Many people get away with having weak gluts if they do not put a lot of demand on their bodies with exercise or work tasks. For others out there such as runners, football players, tennis players, your weak gluts could be stopping you from reaching your full potential and even causing an injury!
If you have any persistent low back pain, or you think your gluteal muscles might be on the weaker side, don’t wait for an injury, pop in and see one of the physio’s at Bend + Mend so we can assess them and then help get you back on track! Who knows… maybe you will be a runner after all!
