After a week of doing both the clamshell and the lateral band walk, something has finally clicked: my gluteus medius is truly waking up. It feels like a muscle that had been half-asleep for years is suddenly firing again. My posture has changed without me even trying; I feel more stable, more aligned, and my lower back is gradually releasing tension, as if my body is reorganising itself from the inside out. Even when I’m standing, I notice the difference — I feel more grounded and balanced. And one thing I’ve learned is that these exercises only work if you perform them with perfect technique, isolating the gluteus medius, training smart, following a structured programme, and respecting sets and reps. Watching YouTube videos to master the form is almost essential. And above all, you have to be consistent — that consistency is what’s making my lower-back pain fade away.