A Simple Way To Strengthen The Glute Muscles
Today’s Topic Highlights:
The glutes are the engine of the body. They are the most powerful muscles we possess.
Glutes are responsible for helping us walk, balance, pick things up, maintain good posture, stand up from a chair, and climb flights of stairs.
It is estimated that roughly 80% of jobs in the US involve mostly sedentary activities. This is the main reason why the glutes atrophy in so many people, even at a young age.
Some telltale signs of weak glutes include bad posture, lower back or pelvic area pain, difficulties with climbing stairs, balance issues, and feeling fatigued from brief periods of standing.
One simple exercise that can increase your glute strength and improve all the aforementioned daily functions is the floor bridge.
The glutes are the engine of the body. They are the most powerful muscles we possess. Glutes are responsible for helping us walk, balance, pick things up, maintain good posture, stand up from a chair, and climb flights of stairs. One simple exercise that can increase your glute strength and improve all those daily functions is the floor bridge.
Weak glutes are a common problem. Unsurprisingly, excessive sitting is the main reason why they atrophy in so many people. It is estimated that roughly 80% of jobs in the US involve mostly sedentary activities.1 Given that the average person spends half of their waking life at work between Monday and Friday, one can imagine the impacts of sitting on the very muscles designed to make us locomotive.
Some telltale signs of weak glutes include bad posture, lower back or pelvic area pain, difficulties with climbing stairs, balance issues, and feeling fatigued from brief periods of standing. Gait compensation patterns, such as “duck feet” or bowing in of the knees, are also indications of weak glutes. If any of these sound familiar, chances are your glutes are in need of strengthening.
The glute muscles also generate most of the power needed in rotational sports. If you are a golf enthusiast, this is especially important for you. Hip rotation provides much of the force required to drive the ball. Strong and flexible hip (glute) musculature is the key to achieving consistently longer drives. It is also one of the keys to avoiding golf related back pain over time.
There are a number of exercises that can improve glute strength. Some of these include squats, deadlifts, lunges, and step ups. However, the simplest and most doable exercise for most people is the floor bridge. The floor bridge requires no equipment and can be performed anywhere. As long as you can safely get onto the floor and stand back up, you can do this exercise.
Below is a step by step tutorial on performing the floor bridge with accompanying pictures. If you need head support, you may place a pillow or rolled up yoga mat underneath it.