Why Strong Glutes Aren’t Enough for Better Walking

If you’re trying to improve your ability to stand, balance, and walk, you’ve probably heard the same advice over and over: “Strengthen your glutes.” Glute strength is important — but it’s only part of the picture. Your brain will not fully activate hip extension (the movement that drives standing and walking) unless it feels stable from side to side. That stability comes from the muscles that control the hip, not just the ones that power it. Those stabilizers are primarily your adductors (inner hip) and abductors (outer hip). When these muscles are weak, spastic, or poorly coordinated, your brain senses a risk: “If we push forward into hip extension, we might tip sideways and fall.” So instead of driving the leg backward to create a strong step, the nervous system holds back. The result can look like: • Short, hesitant steps • Difficulty standing tall • Loss of balance when shifting weight • Weak push-off when walking • Fear of falling during movement To improve hip function for walking, your training should focus on three things working together: 1. Hip Stabilization Your adductors and abductors help control the pelvis so your body doesn’t tip side to side. 2. Hip Extension Strength Your glutes and posterior chain provide the power that moves you forward. 3. Nervous System Confidence When the brain senses stability around the hip joint, it allows stronger and more coordinated movement. In other words, your brain needs to feel safe stabilizing the joint before it will allow powerful movement through it. That’s why effective gait training focuses on the entire system — not just one muscle group. When stabilization and strength work together, your body can: • Stand taller • Shift weight more confidently • Maintain balance on one leg • Generate stronger steps • Walk with greater control and stability This type of nervous-system-focused training is exactly how we approach movement in The MS Gym — teaching the brain and body to work together so walking becomes safer, stronger, and more efficient. If you want more exercises like this that train the nervous system to improve balance and walking, explore the rest of the channel and keep building your movement one skill at a time. TIMESTAMP 0:00 Intro 1:36 Push Outs 3:14 Ball Squeeze 4:35 Glute Press 7:17 Outro --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ❤️ FREE EXERCISE GUIDES ❤️ To combat your MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS symptoms FOOT DROP FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM: ★ https://themsgym.mykajabi.com/foot-dr... EXERCISE WITH MS: ★ http://www.exercisewithms.com FREE MINI BALANCE CAMP PROGRAM: ★ https://themsgym.mykajabi.com/mini-ba... HIGH PAYOFF MOVEMENT DRILLS: ★ https://themsgym.mykajabi.com/high-pa... FREE 10 MINUTE STRETCH ROUTINE: ★ https://themsgym.mykajabi.com/free-st... FREE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS EXERCISE GUIDES: ★ https://themsgym.mykajabi.com/new-fre... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER LINKS MS GYM WEBSITE: ★ http://www.themsgym.com MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS ONLINE EXERCISE MEMBERSHIP: ★ https://themsgym.mykajabi.com/registr...