The hidden cause of lower back pain

The psoas muscle is a very deep muscle that connects your torso to your legs.  It affects your posture and helps you to stabilise your spine.    In fact, whether you run, bike, dance, practice yoga, or just hang out on your couch, your psoas muscles are involved.

A person suffering from IlioPsoas syndrome may have pain in the hip and thigh region, as well as hip stiffness and in some cases a clicking or snapping hip.

Other signs which may indicate an unhappy psoas muscle are:

  1. Knee pain – if there is no obvious source then it may be your psoas muscle.
  2. Constipation – a tight psoas muscle can cause or contribute to constipation.
  3. Menstrual cramps – a tight psoas muscle can put pressure on reproductive organs contributing to menstrual cramps.

The reason thatthe psoas is often the hidden cause of lower back pain in our clients is that prolonged periods of sitting cause the psoas muscle to contract.   A deep tissue or sports massage is the perfect way to release a tight psoas.

Related Posts

  • What causes my muscles to knot?

    What are knots:

    • Muscle knots are points within a muscle where contracted fibers are unable to relax.
    • The dictionary is: “highly irritable localized spots of exquisite tenderness in a nodule in palpable taunt bands of muscle tissue.”
    • The medical term for muscle knots is myofascial trigger points.
    Knots are thought to be caused by the building up of protein after the release of lactic acid. Knots cause pain in two ways:
    • Active An active trigger point or knot is one that actively refers pain either locally or via nerve pathways to another location in the body.  Active trigger points are the one that clients are aware of and cause them to book to see a masseur.
    • Latent A latent trigger point is one that isn’t painful until pressure is applied to it.  This is when clients come to me and they find that during the massage they feel pain that they hadn’t felt before the treatment.
    How can I prevent knots? Occasional knots are inevitable, but if you get a lot of them it is worth considering the following
    • Your posture
    • Your potassium and calcium levels as both help to prevent knots
    • Being dehydrated doesn’t help
    • Your posture
    • Stretching may help release knots
    How can I release knots? If you didn’t manage to prevent knots you then need to consider how to release them.
    • To self-treat a muscular knot put a tennis ball in a sock (it makes it easier to hold on to the ball), simply place the tennis ball in the sock against either a wall or the floor and then press the part of your body with the knot on to it and move your body up and down.
    • As an alternative, you could apply a deep, stroking massage directly to the muscle knot.
    • The alternative is to visit a masseur.
     

  • Is massage safe when you are pregnant?

    I know the top priority for pregnant women is to keep the baby safe. With this in mind I want to start by stating there is no evidence that demonstrates

    • massage can induce labour
    • massage can cause miscarriages
    • massage creates complications
    It is important to remember women's bodies were designed to become pregnant and nuture a baby to full term.  Pregnancy is not an illness.  In addition pregnancy can't be made worse by massage.  Muscles are still muscles, joints remain joints, nerves stay nerves. The effects of massage on muscles is the same if you are pregnant or not pregant.   It is common sense that the masseur ensure that the pregnant women is comfortable normally by lying them on their side and proping them up with cushions. So in short massage is safe for pregnant women.

  • Key Hamstring Stretches

    The hamstrings play a crucial role in many daily activities, such as, walking, running, jumping, and controlling some movement in the trunk. In walking, they are most important as an antagonist to the quadriceps in the deceleration of knee extension Most low back pain and sciatica problems will benefit from a regular routine of hamstring stretching. Tightness in the hamstrings places increased stress on the low back and often aggravates or even causes some of the conditions that lead to low back pain and/or sciatica pain. The hamstrings are a group of three muscles (Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus & Semimembranosus) located in the back of the thigh. They run from the pelvis down to the knee, and help bend the knee and extend the hip. Because most daily activities including sitting do not stretch the hamstrings, they are often overly tight and specific stretching exercises are needed to keep them healthy and extended.  In addition strenuous exercises often contributes to tight hamstrings. Stretching your hamstrings before and after working out helps alleviate pain and tightness. Back pain sufferers and those with stiff knees will also benefit from a regular stretching routine. Tight hamstrings are a common finding in most people. However, you can do easy exercises to increase your hamstring length. Learn four easy exercises and be on your way to a more limber lifestyle. Stretch 1 Sit on the floor with both legs out straight. Extend your arms and reach forward by bending at the waist as far as possible while keeping your knees straight. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Relax. Repeat. Stretch 2 Sit on the floor with one leg out straight. Bend the other leg at the knee and position the sole of that foot against your opposite inner thigh. Extend your arms and reach forward over the one straight leg by bending at the bending at the waist as far as possible. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Relax. Repeat with the other leg. Stretch 3 Stand and cross your right foot in front of your left. Slowly lower your forehead to your right knee by bending at the waist. Keep both knees straight. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Relax. Repeat by crossing your left foot in front of your right. Stretch 4 Stand one foot from a wall and place your hands on the wall at shoulder height, shoulder-width apart. Take a step back with one leg while pushing into the wall. Keep your back straight and press your heels into the floor. Hold for 10 seconds. Step forward and repeat with the other leg. Remember massage can help release tight hamstrings.