Gluteal sets are easy exercises that help improve muscular contractions and strengthen thegluteal muscles of the hip. Strong gluteal muscles help in hip extension as well as stabilization of the joint.
These exercises are very beneficial for patients who have had knee orhip replacement surgeryas well as afterlower extremity fractures. Any time you are immobile and confined to bed—like in the hospital—is a good time to consider doing gluteal sets.
Ruth Jenkinson / Getty Images
Why Glute Sets Are Important After Surgery
When you have surgery, you may be required to spend a few days recuperating. Sometimes after major surgery, likecardiac surgery, a total knee, or total hip replacement, you may not be able to move around very well. When this happens, you may have an increased risk of developing a blood clot called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If a DVT mobilizes in your veins, it may travel to your lungs and be fatal.
Performing the squeezing and relaxing action of your gluteal muscles can help to keep blood moving in your hips and legs. Picture your muscles as sponges; squeezing them helps to improve circulation. This is what happens when you do a glute set. Flexing your ankles up and down can help keep blood moving in your lower legs as well.
After hip surgery, you may be required to perform gluteal sets to start to gently contract the very muscles that your healthcare provider had to cut through to get to your hip. You may not be able to forcefully contract your glute muscle, but performing gentle gluteal sets can help start the ball rolling with your hip rehab.
How to Do Glute Sets
Gluteal sets are an easy exercise to do. Check in with your healthcare provider or physical therapist before starting this—or any other exercise program—to be sure exercise is safe for you to do. To do glute sets, just follow these simple steps:
Keep in mind that you should stop the exercise if you feel intense pain in your hips or legs. If this happens, see your healthcare provider or physical therapist. A sharp pain could be a sign of injury or a problem that may require the attention of your practitioner.
Increasing the Challenge
Once gluteal sets are easy to perform, you may want to go on to more advanced hip strengthening. Exercises like bridges and prone straight leg raises can also help improve the strength of your buttock muscles. This can help improve yourbed mobility, walking, and overall functional mobility.
A Word From Verywell
Gluteal sets are an easy exercise to get your hip rehab on the right track. Keeping your hips strong can lead to increased mobility, and the gluteal exercise may help keep you from suffering a DVT after surgery or during a long period of bed rest. Check-in with your healthcare provider and physical therapist, and learn how to properly do your gluteal set exercise to keep your hips strong.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bui MH, Hung DD, Vinh PQ, Hiep NH, Anh LL, Dinh TC.Frequency and risk factor of lower-limb deep vein thrombosis after major orthopedic surgery in Vietnamese patients.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(24):4250-4254. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.369American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.Home therapy exercises after total hip replacement.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bui MH, Hung DD, Vinh PQ, Hiep NH, Anh LL, Dinh TC.Frequency and risk factor of lower-limb deep vein thrombosis after major orthopedic surgery in Vietnamese patients.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(24):4250-4254. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.369American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.Home therapy exercises after total hip replacement.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bui MH, Hung DD, Vinh PQ, Hiep NH, Anh LL, Dinh TC.Frequency and risk factor of lower-limb deep vein thrombosis after major orthopedic surgery in Vietnamese patients.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(24):4250-4254. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.369American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.Home therapy exercises after total hip replacement.
Bui MH, Hung DD, Vinh PQ, Hiep NH, Anh LL, Dinh TC.Frequency and risk factor of lower-limb deep vein thrombosis after major orthopedic surgery in Vietnamese patients.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(24):4250-4254. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.369
American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.Home therapy exercises after total hip replacement.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
