A physical therapist says that most people are weak in this one specific area—here's how to target it effectively

A woman performs a banded squat at home on a yoga mat. Her knees are bent, hands clasped in front of her face, and there is a resistance band looped around her thighs. Behind her we see a fridge, kitchen drawers, and long curtains.

Located in your backside, your glutes are a large group of muscles that play a role in most movements. Trained properly, this muscle group is a powerhouse for everyday activities and athletic performance. But modern lifestyles mean they are prone to chronic underuse.

Unfortunately, the less we use our glutes the harder they are to switch on. This means that other muscles can jump in and take over when we’re doing moves like squats and lunges.