The French are increasingly sedentary: beware of the “dead buttocks” syndrome

“Alarming”. This is the term chosen by the French Federation of Cardiology (FFC) to describe the results of its Observatory on physical activity and sedentary behavior of the French, which have just been made public. “With 5.7 hours on average, sedentary lifestyle continues to increase within the French population”, can we read in particular in the press release. “At the same time, 41% of French people practice insufficient physical or sporting activity, i.e. less than 2 hours per week,” it is also specified.

However, remaining in a sitting or lying position, outside of sleep, for more than two hours in a row is not without consequences for the body. Cardiologists are sounding the alarm by reminding us that this sedentary lifestyle, which has become a real public health issue, prevents the body from burning sufficient calories and eliminating waste or toxins as it should. This can in particular lead to weight gain leading to obesity and an increased risk of developing certain chronic diseases, starting with diabetes, cancer and heart disease. But among the lesser-known consequences of this sedentary lifestyle, there is also a syndrome that specialists call “buttock amnesia” or “dead buttocks”.

What are we talking about?

This syndrome concerns, as its name indicates, the gluteal muscles which consist of the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus. Concretely, the permanent sitting position ends up weakening them: they then take action less automatically or even completely “forget” their function. However, the gluteal muscles are essential for most body movements, recently detailed Dr Kenneth Monaghan, musculoskeletal physiotherapist to the Irish media RTE. “They absorb shock when you take a step or when you walk or run. They are also responsible for controlling your pelvis and certain movements of your back,” he lists, emphasizing that they also stabilize the hips and form a base for the spine and stabilize the pelvis and core.

The first symptoms of gluteal amnesia can appear as pain in the lower back, hips and knees. The warning signal can also come from injuries such as hamstring tears, arthritis in the knees, disc problems or even sciatica. “Muscle weakness can also compress, pull or pinch nerves, leading to the numbness associated with dead butt syndrome”notes Dr. Andrew Bang, chiropractor, at the Cleveland Clinic.

How to react in time?

“We’re not talking about sitting for a single day for a few hours; we’re talking about people who sit constantly at desks in front of computer screens for days, weeks and months over the course of their lives.” pexplains for her part Jane Konidis, specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic (Cleveland, United States) with the New York Time who warned on September 4 in his columns about dead butt syndrome.

Note that specialists provide at least two tips for quickly identifying if you are affected. The first consists of leaning on one leg before transferring your weight to the leg that was inactive. When everything is going well, a firming of the gluteus medius and maximus should be felt. Conversely, when this firming is difficult to perceive, this is a warning sign of gluteal amnesia.

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The second tip consists of lying on your back, before lifting your hips off the ground by engaging your gluteal muscles. When everything is going well, a slight burning in the buttocks should be felt. Conversely, when this burning is felt in the hamstrings, it is because the latter are wrongly used, instead of the former.

If in doubt after these two tests, specialists recommend repeating several exercises intended to use the glutes to help them regain memory of their functions. For example, at work, this could involve taking advantage of a phone call to get up, walking in place or even contracting your gluteal muscles during a lunch break. And outside, do lunges or even squats.