Stuck at your desk all day? If your lifestyle leans towards the sedentary side, you may develop gluteal amnesia. This condition, commonly referred to as “dead butt syndrome,” comes about as the gluteal muscles forget their purpose. It may cause some numbness or soreness upon standing up, but other problems may arise if you do not seek care. H&D Physical Therapy is here to get you working with a pelvic floor therapist in NYC if your lifestyle is causing gluteal amnesia.

What is Gluteal Amnesia?

Pelvic floor therapist in NYC

Gluteal amnesia, also known as gluteus medius tendinopathy, occurs as the gluteus muscles stop supporting, or “forget to” support, your pelvis. Your gluteal muscles lengthen, and your hip flexors tighten, potentially leading to inflammation of the gluteal medius tendons. This causes your body to come out of its proper alignment and brings about pain. Here are some of the symptoms that may result:

  • Numbness or soreness in the buttocks
  • Pain or stiffness, often in the back, hips, knees, or legs
  • Weakening of hip flexors or gluteal muscles
  • Bursa inflammation at the hip joint

This is a painful condition, so getting help as soon as possible is key to finding relief and preventing further pain development. Visiting a physical therapist is a great first step to starting a treatment program tailored to your movement needs.

Treatment

As you visit a pelvic floor therapist in NYC to start treatment, you will likely have your symptoms and medical history reviewed. Your evaluation could call for an X-ray or MRI, but this should not be necessary to diagnose gluteal amnesia.

As for the specific treatment, the first step will often follow the RICE method. This consists of resting, applying ice to the painful area, applying compression wrap, and elevating the area. The specifics of this may vary depending on the location of your pain. As for physical therapy, exercises to encourage flexibility and to strengthen should be ordered. Massage therapy could also be used. These techniques should help reduce pain and recover your body.

Prevention

A general tip for preventing gluteal amnesia is taking breaks from sitting to walk around, especially focusing on using the stairs. Adding this movement into your day will stimulate blood flow and activate your muscles and tendons.

H&D Physical Therapy’s Pelvic Floor Therapist in NYC

If your sedentary lifestyle is causing the pain or stiffness of gluteal amnesia, do not wait to get help. Beginning a treatment program will not only prevent worsening your injury but also help relieve the pain you are experiencing. Our experienced team at H&D Physical Therapy is here to guide you on your path to recovery and help prevent future discomfort. Contact us to book an appointment.