Chiropractic Care for the Psoas Muscle

What is the Psoas Muscle?

The psoas muscles (pronounced so- ass) are long, thin, paired abdominal muscles that originate in the sides of the lower spine, pass through the groin, and attach at the lower pelvis and upper thigh bones. Commonly paired with the iliacus muscle lining the anterior hip basin, the resulting iliopsoas muscles move the lower back and hips and stabilize the lumbar spine, hips, and abdomen. Tightness and weakness in these muscles can lead to various health concerns. Chiropractic care, including massage, application of physical modalities, and spinal and hip adjustments, helps restore function and balance.

Tightness in the psoas muscles can make it challenging to get up from a chair, stand up straight, and walk or run. Pain in the lower back, groin, and buttocks may feel like a catch in the hip or radiate down the leg and may cause a limping gait, shallow breathing, and altered posture, such as swayback (anterior pelvic tilt). Some people also experience a snapping sound in their hip area upon standing.

Psoas muscles suffer from shortness and tightness from too much sitting, core muscle weakness, repetitive hip flexion (dancers, runners, cyclists), previous injuries, and even stress. Some people call the psoas muscle the “Muscle of the Soul” and believe it holds onto traumatic experiences. Spinal arthritis and post-hip replacement complications also contribute to psoas muscle irritation. Treatment that addresses the myriad causes and factors underlying psoas injury is beneficial for recovery.

Nerve innervation to these deep groin muscles is the lumbar plexus and arises from the lumbar vertebrae levels 1,2, and 3. Conditions such as lumbar spinal degeneration, stenosis, disc bulge, and herniation affecting the lower back can therefore impact the psoas muscle.

Recovery from back pain caused by tight psoas muscles may be difficult for some people, as it can hurt to stand up, walk, run, and breathe deeply at times. As a result, people may reduce these activities. The vicious cycle of pain creating more pain is frustrating and disabling.

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, Dr. Oskardmay strives to support the delicate balance that activity and rest need to promote healing. She uses gentle techniques to coax relaxation into tight muscles and provides balanced exercises to stretch and strengthen injured areas. Using Activator chiropractic adjusting techniques, she gently mobilizes injured vertebral segments to restore spinal bone position, mobility, and blood supply to connected segments. If warranted, she also uses acupuncture to support the flow of qi energy and reduce stagnation.

Call today 919-929-1400 to schedule an appointment. Visit us online at acudocnc.com to learn more about how natural chiropractic and acupuncture can help and schedule 24 hours a day.

Located in Chapel Hill’s Eastowne Hills, just off I-40, our office has served Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding communities since 1995 with quality alternative and complementary medicine. We participate with most major insurance companies as well, and look forward to helping each person feel better naturally.