DBS not to be confused with IBS (Although, you might develop DBS from sitting on the toilet too much)!
Dormant Butt Syndrome (DBS). Sure, it’s a funny name, but it’s a condition that’s growing in our nation and causing people to experience much more than a ‘pain in the butt.’ While DBS stems from a patient’s gluteus (butt muscle) not working efficiently, it causes aches and pain in the knee, back, and hip areas.
When these muscles are weak, or inefficient, they aren’t able to sustain the shock that they should. With that, areas like the knee, back, and hip are forced into the responsibility of accepting additional stress – possibly causing pain.
The world we live includes a lot sitting – in our cars, at a desk, in front of our TV. This in turn, causes tightness in anterior chain, specifically the hipflexor in the front of the hip. Because these areas get so tight our hips never achieve adequate hip positioning allowing for efficient glute activation.
Seemingly, as our culture leans more and more on inactivity, incidents of this syndrome will only increase. In addition, beyond sitting and repetitive physical exercise, there are even certain sleeping positions – the fetal, for example – that can also contribute to DBS.
So how do you treat DBS? Get moving! TOPS Physical Therapy and Osteopractics can treat you with exercises that both stretch the hip flexor as well as strengthen the gluteal muscles. If you’re in pain from DBS, you can make it a habit to break your sitting habit – set an alarm to notify yourself to get up and walk around.
References:
- Dan Fleury PT, DPT, OCS, Diploma Osteopractic, FAAOMPT, ‘Dormant Butt Syndrome – The Newest Threat to Humanity’. Daily Press; Woods, Shannon. https://www.dailypress.com/brandpublishing/healthy-body-healthy-mind/dp-bp-osc-butt-syndrome-story-110116-story.html.
- ‘Aches and Pain? You Could Have Dormant Butt Syndrome’. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dormant-butt-syndrome-a-cause-of-common-aches-and-pains/.
