The Major Contributor To Low Back Pain

Psoas Muscle – Hip Flexors

What is the Iliopsoas Muscle?

It is a group of muscles consisting of the psoas major, psoas minor and the iliacus muscles. They are the only muscles, besides the piriformis, that connect the vertebrae to the legs.

Psoas Functions

This group of muscles  work as a hip and thigh flexor, an extensor of the lumbar spine — which makes it the major walking muscle.  If the legs are stationary, these muscles work to bend the spine forward. When you’re sitting, they stabilize and balance the trunk.

Psoas Dysfunction

Common Pain Symptoms

• referred pain down the front of the thigh
• vertically along the lower to mid spinal column
• trigger points are found above the path of the psoas on the abdomen, on the quadratus lumborum muscles, as well as the piriformis, gluteals, hamstrings, and erector spinae.

Causes of Dysfunction

• postural habits – prolonged sitting, exaggerated forward bend while sitting, or certain standing and walking postures.
• walking or standing with our chin forward
• prolonged sitting at the office, car or elsewhere
• poor pelvic stabilization

Until the psoas is released, the muscle may stay contracted and go into further shortening and spasm.

Treatment Considerations

The iliopsoas muscle is an essential part of the instinctive fear reflex and, as such, it is very sensitive.  In addition, patients with poor pelvic floor strength &/or stability almost always have over tightening in their hip flexors.

Treatment Techniques

The psoas /hip flexor dysfunction is extremely common and can and is almost always involved in disc herniation, facet jamming and other back pain conditions and we will help to determine if this injury is affecting you.

Some of the techniques employed by our team at WBH are:

• Education about aggravating factors/positions to avoid
• Iliopsoas release with stretch
• Joint Mobilizations
• Muscle release therapies are followed by directed stretching and strengthening exercises of specific and related muscles.
• A personalized Home Exercise Plan to help you speed up your own recovery