The buttocks are the hub connecting the trunk and lower limbs of the human body, with rich muscles composed of muscles such as the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minous. They play a role in supporting the human body, assisting in movement, shock absorption, and injury prevention in daily life.
Many people have bad habits such as sitting still for long periods of time and crossing their legs, which may be the cause of symptoms such as hip muscle weakness and lower back and leg pain.
Prolonged sitting can lead to "dead buttocks"
Hip muscle weakness and functional decline may lead to "gluteal muscle amnesia", also known as "dead hip syndrome", which is caused by prolonged sitting, lack of exercise, or improper exercise methods.
When sitting, the gluteal muscles are in a state of compression, relaxation, and weakness. After prolonged sitting, the brain gradually adapts to this abnormal state and gradually weakens its control over the reflex of the gluteal muscles and nerves. When the gluteal muscles need to work again, the brain has weakened and even stopped reflecting the gluteal nerve signals. The gluteal muscles cannot receive the corresponding nerve electrical signals, and the human body shows "amnesia" in the buttocks, "forgetting" how to contract the gluteal muscles normally.
Hip muscle weakness usually has four manifestations
One is that standing and sitting positions become difficult to maintain and activities are limited;
Secondly, there is pain in the muscles of the lower back and front thigh;
The third is abnormal coordination between walking posture and balance;
The fourth is pain in the knee and hip joints.
Self testing: Did your buttocks die
Someone asked, "I often experience the above symptoms, am I suffering from this disease?" Below is a method to test for the presence of gluteal muscle weakness.
Single leg hip bridge
After lying flat, bend one leg and step on it firmly, while the other leg is extended and off the ground. Apply force to the buttocks and raise the hips until the thigh on the bent side forms a straight line with the trunk. Hold for 10 seconds and then relax, alternating left and right.
If the straight leg height gradually decreases or sways left and right within 10 seconds, or even cannot be maintained, it may indicate the presence of gluteal muscle weakness.
"Hip amnesia", patting Baliao
Dead buttocks syndrome is caused by the accumulation of long-term bad habits. If you maintain good habits, reduce prolonged sitting, choose the right exercise methods, and take care of your buttocks, you can avoid getting this disease.
Above the buttocks, there is a group of acupoints called "Baliao acupoints" located on the sacrum, consisting of four pairs of acupoints: Shangliao acupoint, Ciliao acupoint, Zhongliao acupoint, and Xialiao acupoint. Baliao acupoint belongs to the Foot Sun Bladder Meridian in the meridian system and is one of the gathering places for Yang energy in the human body. Therefore, tapping and massaging the Baliao acupoint helps to enhance the body's yang energy, promote the circulation of yang energy and blood in the buttocks and waist, and play a role in preventing "dead buttocks syndrome".
Pat Baliao acupoint
Choose a sitting or standing position, bend forward slightly, clench your hand slightly or naturally spread out your palm, tap lightly with your fist or pat lightly with the back of your hand, with a slightly stimulating force that does not cause excessive pain or discomfort. Pat slowly for 2-3 minutes each time, 2-3 times a day.
The back of the hand belongs to the yang side relative to the palm, therefore, stimulating the Baliao acupoint with the back of the hand's yang side can better assist in the increase of yang energy.
Attention: Tapping is a stimulating action. Women during menstruation or pregnancy, as well as those with symptoms or diseases such as pelvic bleeding or cysts, are not suitable for tapping the Baliao acupoint.