A woman in Zhejiang Province has been told by the doctor that she might develop “dead butt syndrome” (死臀综合征) due to long periods of sitting, according to a report by Guangming Net on Wednesday. The 26-year-old woman, who prefers to be called Dai, had been experiencing discomfort in her lower back for the past two months. The discomfort later became unbearable pain during extended periods of sitting.

News of the incident quickly gained attention on Sina Weibo. Some users humorously commented that while some people may be alive, their butts have already “died”. Others expressed concern about their own inactive lifestyles and the possibility of developing the syndrome.

“Dead butt syndrome” mainly happens when the gluteus medius (臀中肌), one of the three main muscles in the buttocks, weakens due to long periods of sitting. This weakening can damage the muscles’ability to work properly, leading to poor shock absorption and reduced motion control of the hip and leg. The syndrome is becoming a more common disease without people’s noticing.

Medical professionals have offered precautionary (预防的) measures for the syndrome, stressing the importance of staying physically active. For individuals who sit for long periods, it is recommended to stand up and stretch the body periodically, walk around, and keep the gluteal muscles active throughout the day.

A simple rule to follow is to stand up and move for at least 10 minutes every hour of sitting to reactivate the gluteal muscles and prevent them from becoming “inactive”.

There are three simple self-diagnosis (自我诊断) steps for the syndrome: flat and floppy butts, discomfort in the waist, hips, and knees after long time of sitting, and an inability to keep the upper body upright while performing a deep squat (蹲) with both hands extended overhead. If someone shows all these symptoms, there is a possibility that they have developed the syndrome. Furthermore, if individuals experience worsening lower back pain after long periods of sitting, seeking professional medical help is advisable.

【小题1】Why is the woman’s case mentioned in paragraph 1?

A．To introduce the topic.

B．To make the text interesting.

C．To attract the readers’attention.

D．To explain what dead butt syndrome is.

【小题2】How can we prevent ourselves from developing “dead butt syndrome”?

A．By avoiding sitting when at work.

B．By making our gluteal muscles active.

C．By giving our gluteal muscles a good rest.

D．By standing up and move every 10 minutes.

【小题3】What’s the main cause of this syndrome?

A．The poor shock absorption.

B．The damaged ability to walk.

C．The weakened gluteus medius.

D．The reduced motion control of the leg.

【小题4】What’s the best title of the text?

A．Dead Butt Syndrome—a Hidden Health Killer

B．Dead Butt Syndrome—a Common Disease

C．Saying Goodbye to Dead Butt Syndrome

D．Sitting for Dead Butt Syndrome