DO YOU HAVE LAZY GLUTES?

They’re the largest muscle group in the body, but is there a chance your glutes aren’t pulling their weight? Yep, it turns out lazy glutes are a real thing. And what’s more, Sydney gym SOMA Collection co-founder Franco Atashi says it’s surprisingly common.

- AMBER BRAMBLE

“A lot of clients I see each day aren’t able to contract or activate their glutes,” he says. “What’s interesting is that this is the largest muscle group in the body, and it’s often the least used.”

Also known as “gluteal amnesia”, lazy glutes are a problem that can occur for many reasons. “These include work and lifestyle habits, building bad mechanical patterns throughout the day and exercising incorrectly,” Atashi says.

COMMON SIGNS

So, how can we tell if our glutes are being lazy? “The most effective way to tell would be to conduct a couple of tests with a professional personal trainer or physio,” Atashi says. “However, you can often tell if you have lower back pain, a tight back and weak, tired knees. These can all be signs of lazy glutes,” he adds.

“Often, you’ll know if your glutes have been activated and that there is good brain to muscle connection after a lower-body workout class and you can feel it the next day. If you can’t feel anything in your glutes, then you can almost guarantee that your glutes are not firing up properly.”