Gluteal amnesia (GA) is a clinical phenomenon characterised by reduced neuromuscular activation of the gluteal muscles — primarily m. gluteus maximus and m. gluteus medius — resulting from prolonged sitting, motor dysfunction, or neurological inhibition. Despite the widespread use of the term in clinical practice, its pathophysiological basis and the evidence base for diagnosis and treatment remain insufficiently systematised.
The aim of this review is to analyse available scientific evidence on the mechanisms of neuromuscular inhibition in GA, its clinical significance in the context of low back pain, knee and hip instability, and sports injuries, and to present evidence-based methods of assessment (electromyography, clinical tests, instrumental diagnostics) and intervention (motor re-education, activation exercises, neurological facilitation).
The review includes 47 publications from PubMed, Scopus, and PEDro databases for the period 2000–2024. Results confirm the clinical significance of gluteal inhibition and the need for targeted assessment and reactivation protocols. The presented interventions demonstrate moderate to high effectiveness in selected populations.
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