What are gluteals? Buttocks are not just for sitting on! Without attention these muscles quickly waste away leaving flat, droopy butts. Allow me to introduce you to: * Gluteus Maximus * Gluteus Medius, and * Gluteus Minimus Why do we need them? Not only is this not aesthetically pleasing but the gluteals are a powerful hip extensor and weakness results in significant power output decreases. Without good gluteal muscles to perform the hip extension needed in getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, walking, running, and cycling, other muscles are forced to compensate particularly the muscle of the lower back and hamstrings leading to injury and muscle pain.