Gluteal Amnesia
Hip - Motor Pattern
Gluteal amnesia is the inhibition of gluteal activation, leading to compensatory hamstring and lumbar extensor dominance.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Prolonged sitting and poor motor control reduce glute recruitment, shifting hip extension to hamstrings and lumbar extensors.
Clinical Rationale
Glute inhibition shifts load to the lumbar spine and hamstrings, increasing injury risk. Restoring glute activation improves mechanics.
Practical Solution
Re-establish glute recruitment before loading patterns. Emphasize quality of activation.
Common Compensations
- Hamstring dominance
- Lumbar extension during hip extension
- Knee valgus
Progression
- Level 1: Supine activation
- Level 2: Bridging
- Level 3: Single-leg activation
- Level 4: Loaded hinge
Regression
- Reduce load
- Use tactile cues
- Limit range
Red Flags
- Severe lumbar pain
- Neurological symptoms
Differential Diagnosis
- Lumbar pathology
- Hip joint pathology
- Hamstring strain
Related Patterns
- hamstring dominance
- lateral pelvic tilt
Related Exercises
- glute bridge
- single leg hip thrust
- clamshell
- bird dog
- monster walk
- hip thrust
Related Assessments
- prone hip extension assessment
- single leg squat assessment
- trendelenburg assessment
Evidence
Level: strong
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses show which exercises generate highest gluteus medius and gluteus maximus activity; progressive loading of gluteal exercises improves pain, function, and single-leg control, supporting re-education of glute-dominated hip extension.
Sources:
- systematic review/meta-analysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of common therapeutic exercises that generate highest muscle activity in the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus segments. (link)
- systematic review: A systematic review of rehabilitation exercises to progressively load the gluteus medius. (link)