05/01/2023
Muscle of the Month: Psoas Major
The psoas muscle is a paraspinal muscle located deep in the body, very close to the spine and the brim of the lesser pelvis. At its distal end, it combines with the iliacus muscle to form the iliopsoas muscle. This depth, combined with the fact that the psoas originates from the sides of the five lumbar vertebrae, means it plays an important role in back health. It also acts to both laterally flex the lumbar spine as well as stabilize and flex the thigh. It is essential for correct standing or sitting lumbar posture, stability of the hip joint, and during walking and running.
When your psoas muscle gets too tight or shortened, it may arch the back ie lumbar hyperlordosis, especially if the abdominal muscles are challenged in curl up. If the psoas is weak, it will likely be harder to flex the hip joint, negatively affecting the ability to climb stairs, walk uphill, get up from supine or preparing to stand up from a sitting position.
Psoas syndrome can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
-Lower back pain, the most common symptom, although this can be symptomatic of many conditions
-Pain in the lumbosacral region (the border between the lower part of the spine and the buttocks that can radiate up to lumbar vertebrae or down to the sacrum) when sitting or particularly when changing positions arising for sitting to standing
-Difficulty/pain when trying to stand in a fully upright posture
-Pain in the buttocks
-Radiation of pain down the leg
-Groin pain
-Pelvic pain
-Limping or shuffling stride when you walk
Many of these symptoms can mimic other, more serious conditions. Hip arthritis, kidney stones (ureteral calculi), hernias, femoral bursitis, prostatitis, salpingitis, colon cancer and colon diverticulitis can also cause severe back pain. It is important to consult your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms.
A massage therapist will want to access this muscle through the abdomen as the back muscles are too thick to have any effect on the psoas. It can be painful or an odd feeling but the relief from having this worked can be quick. I have personally found that people who have to commute or sit at a desk a lot for work have problems in this area. I also had a baseball catcher that had major problems in this muscle because of the squatting position he had to be in.
Below is a great stretch for this muscle:
https://youtu.be/DE97lAdc6hQ
https://youtu.be/yfswfLuW_tI
