Corrective Exercise Toolkit

Gluteal Amnesia

Gluteal amnesia is the inhibition of gluteal activation, leading to compensatory hamstring and lumbar extensor dominance.

Hip - Motor Pattern

Biomechanical Mechanism

Prolonged sitting and poor motor control reduce glute recruitment, shifting hip extension to hamstrings and lumbar extensors.

Clinical Rationale

Glute inhibition shifts load to the lumbar spine and hamstrings, increasing injury risk. Restoring glute activation improves mechanics.

Practical Solution

Re-establish glute recruitment before loading patterns. Emphasize quality of activation.

Common Compensations

Progression

  1. 1Level 1: Supine activation
  2. 2Level 2: Bridging
  3. 3Level 3: Single-leg activation
  4. 4Level 4: Loaded hinge

Regression

  • Reduce load
  • Use tactile cues
  • Limit range

Red Flags

Differential Diagnosis

Lumbar pathologyHip joint pathologyHamstring strain
Related Assessments
prone hip extension assessmentsingle leg squat assessmenttrendelenburg assessment
Related Exercises
glute bridgesingle leg hip thrustclamshellbird dogmonster walkhip thrust

Evidence

Level: strong

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses show which exercises generate highest gluteus medius and gluteus maximus activity; progressive loading of gluteal exercises improves pain, function, and single-leg control, supporting re-education of glute-dominated hip extension.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of common therapeutic exercises that generate highest muscle activity in the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus segments.

systematic review/meta-analysis View source

A systematic review of rehabilitation exercises to progressively load the gluteus medius.

systematic review View source

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