The Psoas muscle and its importance in everyday life.
The psoas muscle is a deep muscle within the abdominal area which works to flex the hip joint and stabilise the lumbar spine. It is also known as the muscle that can hold emotional stress. If your hips feel tight through the front, it might be your psoas muscle which needs to be lengthened and released. A tight psoas muscle can also cause lower back pain due to its attachment to the lumbar vertebrae, L1-L4.
The psoas muscle is a powerful muscle of the body and as it descends from the lumbar spine vertebrae into the hip joint, it joins iliacus (another muscle) to create iliopsoas.
So, if you have back or hip pain, this is a great muscle to get to know. My favourite two stretches for stretching your psoas muscle are below.
Psoas Stretch 1: Foam roller Psoas and Abdominal lengthening
Using your roller under your sacrum, bend one knee to the chest and hold the knee.
With the other hand hold the roller in place.
Extend the leg long and open the front of the hip.
Keep the lower back in neutral, reducing the arch in your lower back so that you can isolate your hip.
Feel the stretch in your abdominals and/or the front of the hip.
Hold for 6 breaths on each side.
Psoas Stretch 2: Kneeling Lunge
Kneeling on the ground, with one leg in front of the other, rock forwards until you feel a stretch in the front of the back thigh.
Lift the arms into the air.
Hold for 6 breaths on each side.
If you would like to investigate your back or hip pain or problems woth hip joints and muscles further, then please get in touch and one of our Physiotherapists can help you.