If only it was that simple - then we could flick a switch and go from "off" to "on".
Believe us, your glutes work!
Really what is happening here is a description of how you prefer to move or perform a task - a movement pattern or mapping pattern. Think about it this way...
How many ways are there for you to drive to the beach?
You could probably find 2-3 ways quite easily right?... Well, the same could be asked of your brain - how many different ways can we use our body to kick or throw a ball?
There are many ways to do this, but the way YOU throw a ball would reflect the most learnt way of doing it, or your most preferred way to do so. It’s not always efficient or technically sound, but you can use so many different parts of your arm to throw the ball, but really, who's to say which is the 'best' way?
So if someone said that your pec doesn't "turn on" when you throw.. you could easily reply with "so what?". So here's the real issue...
We as humans in the 21st century have adopted behaviours, such as sitting for extended periods of time, that choose NOT to incorporate our glutes in daily activities.... But saying your 'glutes don't turn on' is unhelpful to help move us towards how we can improve.
For argument's sake, if you NEVER used your glutes in your life and you also NEVER had an injury or pain - who is to say that using your glutes would be better for you?
Let's go back to the map analogy of getting to the beach. If you only used one road to get to the beach, what happens if the road you take is closed? Do you have alternative routes to take?
To be robust and resilient humans, we need multiple strategies to get from Point A to Point B, so we can accomodate for unexpected changes along the way.
Not using your glutes frequently, is like not using a highway frequently.
But to start learning how to use them, you need to learn how to incorporate them into your behaviour patterns - so doing 10,000 glute bridges won't necessarily teach you to switch them on more frequently. So a better thing to be told is…
"We need to build more strategies for your movement which incorporate your glutes.."
or “Let’s create more alternative routes to get to the beach”.
Your exercises need to target the pattern you're trying to build! We, as Chiros and Physios, don't flick any switches, but we can help fast track your remapping.