So here’s the bottom line. If you’re suffering from dodgy knees, clicky hips or a touch of backache, the culprit may not be staring you in the face, because it’s actually right behind you - a lazy, under-used derriere.
An increasingly sedentary lifestyle is being blamed for a condition dubbed Dormant Bottom Syndrome (DBS) by one American medic. It’s becoming a more and more prevalent problem due to the amount of time we all spend sitting down, whether it’s at a desk or relaxing in the garden.
According to Chris Kolba, a world specialist in sports medicine, DBS develops when the gluteal muscles in your backside (three, known collectively as the glutes) are weak and the hip flexors - muscles that control the movement of your hips - are tight.
This leads to muscles and joints around them taking the strain, which can cause all sorts of injuries to the back, hips, knees and elsewhere.
‘Sitting for prolonged periods throughout the day weakens the gluteal muscles and puts strain on other parts of our core,’ explains Chris.