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Glute Max

 Your glute maximus muscle is the biggest (largest and heaviest) muscle in your body.  It is the muscle you can feel if you tap your bottom. The two other glute muscles, glute medius and glute minimus are mainly sitting beneath the larger and most famous glute max. 

The glute max is responsible for hip extension, this is when you leg stretches behind your body.  When you walk there is a small moment when you push off the toe of the behind leg.  This is your leg in hip extension.  Glute max is responsible for stepping up (climbing stairs), climbing, running and getting you up out of your chair or off the sofa.   Its a very important muscle to keep happy and moving freely.  Your glute max works closely with your hamstring (back of the thigh) to keep you standing up and to help you stand up again if you bend forwards towards your toes. 

Unfortunately glute max can get out of shape or become inhibited (stop working as well due to something else).  The hamstring (back of thigh muscles) or hip flexors (see post 4th March 2022) can try to do some of the work that should be done by your glute max.  I had a very lazy glute max muscles when I started my Pilates journey, but they are reluctantly doing their job now. 

If you want to get ahead of the glute max game, climb stairs!  Not just once, but every time stairs are an option. 



 

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