Summer is officially here—and with it comes longer days, more sunshine, and a whole lot more movement. Hiking trails are calling, pickleball courts are buzzing, and the sidewalks are packed with runners. Here in New Mexico, we wait all year for this! But if you’re feeling like your body’s not quite keeping up with the season’s energy—or worse, nursing some nagging aches—it might be time to check in with the quiet MVPs of your body: your glutes.
Yep. Glutes. Your backside. Your butt. Whatever you want to call them, they do way more than fill out your shorts. Your glutes are the engine behind almost every powerful movement you make. Walking, running, jumping, squatting, climbing—these muscles are supposed to fire up and take charge. But what if they don’t?
Let’s talk about a problem we see all the time in our clinic at Artistry in Motion: underactive glutes.
Now, this isn’t about how strong you look. It’s about how well your glutes function. You can be lean, fit, even muscular, and still have glutes that aren’t doing their job. It happens more than you’d think—especially in people who sit a lot, move with poor mechanics, or have an old injury they never quite addressed.
When your glutes are snoozing on the job, guess who steps in? Usually, your lower back, hamstrings, hip flexors, and even your knees. These helpers weren’t meant to carry the whole load, and over time, this compensation can lead to discomfort, strain, and injuries.
Sound familiar? Tight hips. Achy low back. Knees that complain after a run. A weird imbalance when you try to do lunges. These can all point to a glute activation problem hiding under the surface.
At Artistry in Motion, we’re not just here to get you out of pain. We’re here to help you move better, perform better, and feel stronger than ever. And when it comes to movement, glute activation is one of the most powerful game-changers we focus on with our active adult clients.
Our 3-C Recovery Process is built for moments like this:
CALM your pain – First things first, we dial down the pain and help your body feel safe and supported again.
CORRECT the root cause – Then we dig in. If your glutes aren’t firing, why not? Is it mobility? Strength? Timing? We’ll figure it out and fix it.
CONQUER your goals – This is where the magic happens. Once your glutes are awake and working, we build strength, control, and power into your program based on your goals—whether that’s running longer, squatting deeper, or hiking that peak that’s been calling your name.
Sure, strong glutes look great. But more importantly, they feel great. They stabilize your pelvis. They support your spine. They generate the power you need to move explosively and efficiently. They’re essential to posture, core stability, and balance.
Neglecting your glutes doesn’t just affect your workout. It affects your walking pattern. Your ability to climb stairs without holding onto the rail. Your balance on uneven ground. Your posture while standing in line or working at your desk. Your ability to pick something up off the floor without throwing out your back.
In other words, this isn’t just a fitness thing. It’s a life thing.
Good question. Glutes can become underactive for a number of reasons:
Too much sitting – The more you sit, the more your body adapts to that position. Glutes stretched and shut off. Hip flexors tight and dominant.
Poor motor control – If your body never learned how to properly recruit your glutes, other muscles take over.
Old injuries – An ankle sprain from years ago could be throwing off how your body moves now.
Compensations – If another part of your body isn’t pulling its weight, your glutes may shut down to compensate.
We see it all the time. Someone comes in with a "knee issue" or "low back pain"—but once we assess their movement, it’s clear the real issue is glute inhibition.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all problem, so we don’t offer one-size-fits-all solutions. When you work with us, you get 60 minutes of one-on-one care—every time—with the same provider, who knows your goals and your body inside and out.
We start by assessing how your glutes are functioning:
Are they activating at the right time?
Do you have the mobility to access them?
Do you have the strength and endurance to use them properly?
Then we build a customized plan to:
Mobilize tight hips
Reactivate sleepy glutes
Strengthen the whole posterior chain
Teach your brain and body how to use these muscles during your specific activities
Whether you’re a CrossFitter, a weekend warrior, a runner, or someone who just wants to feel more confident and powerful in your body—we’ve got you.
This isn’t about doing 100 clamshells or banded walks until your hips are on fire (although we do love a well-timed mini band). Waking up your glutes is about:
Intentional movement – Learning how to feel and control the muscle
Proper sequencing – Getting the right muscles to fire at the right time
Progressive loading – Challenging your glutes in ways that make sense for your goals
Movement integration – Making sure those glutes are firing not just in the gym, but on the trail, the court, the stairs, or wherever life takes you
We use tools like manual therapy, resistance training, and sport-specific drills to make sure your glutes aren’t just awake, they’re unleashed.
Maybe you’ve been dealing with nagging pain and didn’t realize it could be a glute issue. Maybe you’ve tried working out but never quite felt like things were firing right. Or maybe you just want to get more out of your summer activities without dealing with soreness and strain.
Physical therapy can help.
Now is the perfect time to get in, get assessed, and get a plan that makes your body feel as strong and capable as your goals.
You don’t need a referral. You don’t need a bunch of imaging. You just need one hour and a willingness to move forward.
Your glutes—and the rest of your body—will thank you.
Let’s find out what your glutes are up to. Schedule a session with us and take the first step toward unlocking more strength, more stability, and more freedom to do the things you love.
We’re here when you’re ready.
Artistry in Motion Physical Therapy.
Where strength meets strategy.