It may sound like a made up name, but if you spend hours a day sitting at a desk, doing long hauls in the car, or sitting on the couch for extended periods of time (we see you Netflix watchers!), you may be suffering from Dead Butt Syndrome (DBS).
While your doctor may not refer to it as that, it’s the term that’s been circling the Internet, pretty much since the pandemic began and more people started working from home (i.e. the couch) and watching more TV in longer sittings. Most doctors refer to this condition as gluteus medius tendinopath or gluteal amnesia. If you are suffering from DBS or pain related to DBS, our Littleton chiropractors can help.
Gluteal amnesia in other words is when the gluteus medius (one of three main muscles in the buttocks) actually forgetshow to fire properly when you are running, walking, or even standing. It’s call amnesia because it literally forgets all the years of training pretty quickly.
While your butt may not actually be hurting, it can send pain all the way down your legs and feet, lower back, hips, and more. Sitting down too much or not moving your muscles essentially trains your muscles to be weaker, which is what happens in DBS.
Think about it this way – when your gluteus medius muscles weaken, your body beings to overcompensate, therefore creating an imbalance in other areas, such as your pelvis, hips, knees, ankles, and back. Ever been on a long flight and needed to get up just to stretch and move around? That’s your body reminding you to keep moving, but sometimes, we are too busy on our laptops to hear those signals.
How Can You Prevent Dead Butt Syndrome?
Targeting exercises that focus on your booty will help. Changing up your regular workout routine will also help fire off other muscles, to keep your entire body working and moving properly. Seeing a Littleton physical therapist can also help create a customized workout plan with a few exercises you can do each day, even from your office.
Our Littleton chiropractors can help treat and diagnose DBS, as well as help alleviate the pain associated with the prolonged sitting. A full medical review and/or x-rays may be necessary, but regular chiropractic adjustments, including attention to your hips, which can bear the brunt of DBS, will be incredibly helpful. Our Littleton physical therapists will recommend flexibility and strength training exercises, and medical massages may be another effective treatment option, which can all be done here in our Littleton chiropractor’s office.
If not treated, DBS can not only cause pain, but also cause a decrease in range of motion, among other things, so it’s important to get moving and seen by a Littleton chiropractor.
Here are 5 exercises you can try right now to prevent DBS.
Who would have thought binge-watching your favorite show could cause so much pain? Obviously a little R&R time isn’t bad for anyone, but make it a point to keep moving. You can even set an alarm on your phone to get up from your desk every hour. If you work in an office, take the stairs if possible on your way to lunch or to your car, which will activate those gluteus muscles in a big way. Plus, changing your scenery and getting fresh air is good for both your physical and mental health, so let’s all start making this a habit.
Whether you’re suffering from an injury like dead butt syndrome or something else related to working from home and your makeshift office, call our Littleton chiropractors today to schedule an appointment at 303.904.0331 or request an appointment online. We also offer a New Patient Special, so be sure to call our office and get the details or to see if we take your insurance plan.
