Keller Chiropractor’s Secret Weapon against Back Pain…

What’s the secret weapon that the doctor’s of Parkhill Chiropractic in Keller, TX use to dismantle low back pain?  Its the Psoas Major muscle, pronounced [soh-uhs].  What does this muscle have to do with back pain? Let’s take a closer look.

Anatomy

The origin of the Psoas major is on the Transverse processes of the Lumbar Vertabrae. As part of the iliopsoas, psoas major contributes to flexion and internal rotation in the hip joint. On the lumbar spine, unilateral contraction bends the trunk laterally, while bilateral contraction raises the trunk from its supine position.[Thieme Atlas of Anatomy (2006), p 422]

It forms part of a group of muscles called the hip flexors, whose action is primarily to lift the upper leg towards the body when the body is fixed or to pull the body towards the leg when the leg is fixed.

For example, when doing a situp that brings the torso (including the lower back) away from the ground and towards the front of the leg, the hip flexors (including the iliopsoas) will flex the spine upon the pelvis.

Mechanism of Pain

Spasm or weakening of the Psoas can shift the spine out of alignment and cause a multitude of conditions such as low back pain, hip and groin pain, scoliosis, or radiating nerve pain or numbness such as meralgia paresthetica. A few of the most common causes of Psoas shortening are sleeping in the fetal position, exercises that emphasize repetitive hip flexion, and sitting for long periods. Unfortunately most of our daily activities and hobbies involve a forward flexed posture which contracts the Psoas.  Having your chiropractor check for this could save you lots of time and money.

Treatments

Treatment options include the chiropractic adjustment itself, Myofascial release of the Psoas, or home stretching. At Parkhill Chiropractic we like to use all three to assure a speedy recovery. For more info give us a call any time at (817)337-5199. Until then try a few of this simple stretch on your own. Be sure to inhale and exhale very deeply. Repeat this stretch daily about 10 times for 10 seconds.