Why your desk job is giving you “office butt”, and how to fix it

             Written by: Dr Subita Alagh

30 July 2025

Spending hours at your desk might be weakening your glutes and harming your posture. Let’s break it down.

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"Office butt" or dead butt syndrome happens when sitting for too long weakens glute muscles and reduces blood circulation, affecting posture, mobility, and strength.

Prolonged Sitting Can Flatten Your Glutes

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- Pain or soreness in the buttocks -Tingling or numbness - Pain shooting down your legs - Weakness or loss of tone in your glutes

What Does Office Butt Feel Like?

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- Poor posture - Weight gain - Fatigue and low bone health - Varicose veins or DVT - Stiff neck and shoulders

Side Effects of Too Much Sitting

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Lets check out 4 doable ways to prevent Office Butt.

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Stretch, walk around, or even march in place for 20 seconds. This keeps your glutes engaged and blood flowing. Tip: Walk to a coworker’s desk instead of messaging.

Get Up Every Hour

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Use an app or timer to nudge you every hour to adjust your posture or stand. Seated glute squeezes also help.

Set a Posture Alarm

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Use a cushion or an ergonomic chair to reduce pressure and maintain alignment.

Support Your Glutes at Work

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Counteract sitting with glute-friendly moves like: - Lunges - Squats - Step-ups - Leg lifts

Move More with Targeted Exercises

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