Gluteus medius tendonitis

Gluteus medius tendonitis, also known as gluteal amnesia or colloquially as dead butt syndrome, is a lifestyle-related condition characterized by a loss of muscle tone and strength in the gluteal muscles, most often brought on by long periods of sitting rather than by an acute injury. The primary cause is prolonged inactivity of the gluteal muscles, a pattern especially common among office workers who remain seated through the working day, which allows the muscles to become underactive and tight from disuse, a state described in the condition's informal name as a kind of muscular amnesia. Consequences include noticeable pain or discomfort after extended sitting, potential lower back pain, and possible irritation of the sciatic nerve as nearby structures compensate for weakened gluteal support. As the gluteal muscles lose strength, the lower back and hamstring muscles are often recruited to take over movements the glutes would normally perform, a compensatory overuse pattern that can itself become a source of pain and dysfunction if the underlying gluteal weakness is not addressed through targeted activity and reduced sitting time.