Dormant butt syndrome is linked to knee and back pain

by | Exercise and Fitness, Pain, Sports Fitness

There’s another reason to get out of your chair right now: sitting too long could lead to “dormant butt syndrome”.

That’s the term coined by US physiotherapist Chris Kolba from the Ohio State Wexner Medical Centre, and he says it explains many cases of knee, hip or back pain.

“The entire body works as a linked system, and a lot of times when people come in with knee or hip injuries, it’s because their butt isn’t strong enough,” he says.

Mr Kolba says the syndrome is caused by tight hip flexors and weak gluteal muscles. Other muscles and joints are forced to absorb strain during exercise, leading to hamstring injuries, back pain, hip pain and knee injuries that can lead to surgery.

But it’s not just poor posture and structural weakness during exercise that might be causing dormant butt syndrome.

“Sitting for periods throughout the day weakens the gluteal muscles and puts strain on other parts of our core, as does sleeping in the foetal position,” says Mr Kolba.

Stretching, standing and walking frequently and exercising the gluteal muscles are just some ways to avoid pain and injury in the hip, leg and back, says Mr Kolba.

Watch demonstration:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_trwg7g1v50?controls=0&w=560&h=315]

Rachel Worsley