Written by Naura Ben-Hassen, Pelvic Health Specialist, Kinesiologist, Osteopath, and Fitness and Movement Expert
Photography by Paul Buceta
Hair & Makeup by Monica Kalra
A series helping you regain your body and move freely without pain, incontinence, and discomfort in your core.
Many of us are often focused on shaping a well-rounded booty to balance out our physique, but the benefits of training glutes doesn’t end with aesthetics. Glutes are one of the most important muscles of your body. You likely already know that they help to create a powerful foundation for you, but did you know they also help to eliminate pain and prevent pelvic floor dysfunction? Glutes create pelvis stability and as you know, the pelvic floor muscles are located at the base of your pelvis.
Everything that happens to the pelvis has a repercussion on the pelvic floor, and vice-versa, so working your glutes is crucial to eliminating pelvic dysfunction and to maintain pelvic floor health.
Consider these reasons to strengthen your glutes:
1. Pelvic Girdle Support
The glutes, particularly the gluteus maximus, are key stabilizers of the pelvic girdle. They play an important role in maintaining the stability of the pelvis and spine. A stable pelvis is essential for the proper functioning of the pelvic organs.
2. Improved Posture
Strong glutes contribute to better posture. Good posture helps to align bones and muscles correctly, reducing pressure on the pelvic floor and helping prevent problems like prolapse and incontinence.
3. Strengthening the Pelvic Floor
The glutes work in synergy with the pelvic floor muscles. Strengthening the glutes
can indirectly help tone the pelvic floor muscles, improving their ability to support the pelvic organs.
4. Prevention of Muscle Imbalances
Weak glutes can lead to muscle imbalances, which can cause poor force distribution across the pelvis and pelvic floor. This can lead to pain and dysfunction. Strengthening the glutes helps maintain muscular balance and reduces the risk of injury.
5. Improved Sacroiliac Joint Function
The glutes play a key role in stabilizing the sacroiliac joints, which connect the spine to
the pelvis. Adequate function of these joints is essential to prevent pelvic pain and associated dysfunction.
6. Impact on Daily Activities
Strong glutes are necessary for many daily activities such as walking, running, getting up from a sitting position, and climbing stairs. Optimal function of these muscles helps reduce fatigue, and prevent dysfunction related to excessive or incorrect use of the pelvis and pelvic organs.
7. Reduced Lower Back Pain
Weak glutes can contribute to lower back pain, which is often linked to pelvic dysfunction. By strengthening the glutes, we can reduce pressure on the lumbar region and improve pelvic health.
