Strong Glutes
Yes we are talking about a big butt :) But why you may ask? (sorry couldn’t resist the pun)
Let’s talk about the glutes and the roll they play in keeping us strong and stable.
Strong glutes are important for proper pelvic alignment, propulsion during walking and running, and even standing on one leg. Glutes also help support the lower back during lifting, and help prevent knee injuries.
Three reasons strong glutes are important
1. Increase power and exercise performance
Your glutes assist in forward propulsion during running by creating explosive hip extension. They are essential to acceleration, jumping and even heavy lifting. If your gluteal muscles get weak, you may find yourself less powerful and less efficient.
2. Reduce back pain
Your glutes are responsible for hip extension and assist their reverse action. When your feet are fixed on the ground, their job is to move your chest upward from the ground, like in a deadlift. Strong glutes are essential to lower back health since they assist with pelvic, hip and trunk motions. They also help more evenly distribute load throughout your lower back and lower extremities and assist in good posture.
3. Reduce knee pain
Your gluteal muscles create pelvic stability; which is especially important when your lower extremities function in a closed chain. For example, if you twist your ankle, you can also have imbalances at the knee and further up the leg. The same thing can happen if instability begins at the hip, leading to excessive force on the knee and ankle. That can mean knee pain or discomfort. Instability at the hip can cause your femur to turn too far inwards (excessive medial rotation), causing your kneecap to slip out of place as your leg bends and straightens. It’s called lateral patellar tracking, and is a common source of the pain for many people.