(NewsNation) — The real medical term is “gluteal amnesia.” The term, even if you’ve never seen it before now, immediately defines itself: dead butt syndrome. And experts say it’s not something to laugh about.
“The sustained flexed position of the hip and the compression of the tissues sets us up for the perfect storm of shut[ting] down glute function,” said physical therapist Kelly Starrett in an interview with Huffington Post.
Sitting for too long is an inevitable condition for millions of people whose jobs are chained to a computer screen. But the knock-on effects of the gluteal muscles falling asleep stretch far beyond the butt.
Sitting too long restricts blood flow, which, along with gluteal amnesia, can lead to pain in the hips, the lower back and even the ankles.
“If you imagine making a panini sandwich where you take high pressure and high temperature and make a grilled cheese, sitting on your glutes all day is a little like this,” Starrett said.
Another problem: “synergistic dominance.” That’s where smaller muscles in the hips and legs compensate for the inactive glutes and take over some control of the forces loaded on the hips, spine and lower back.
The solution is the opposite of what’s causing the problem. To combat sitting too long, stand up, say the experts.
“A good rule to remember is for every hour of sitting, you need to take 10 minutes of standing and moving around to reactivate and keep those butt muscles from falling asleep,” says New York City trainer Jeff Bell.
Beyond a quick stand and walk, trainers suggest easy glute-strengthening exercises like lunges and squats.