A little-known muscle that can cause a lot of back pain 

When it comes to lower back pain, the region where the spine connects to the lower body is of critical importance. There is an intricate network of muscles, structures and nerves which connect at this crucial intersection; thus, there is a lot of potential for tension, misalignment and injury to disrupt your body’s natural balance and cause pain. Today, we are going to focus on one muscle in particular that flies under the radar: the psoas.

Say hello to the psoas 

The psoas muscle, along with the piriformis and gluteus maximus, form the three main muscles that attach the spine to the lower body. This influential muscle connects the lumbar spine to the femur, helping to create and stabilize the lordotic curve in the lower back which allows for weight bearance and transfer. It plays a crucial role in standing and walking, which means that these activities are where the psoas receives its primary conditioning. When we sit excessively, the psoas remains overly contracted and pulls the pelvis forward creating systemic stress in the lower back. With additional pressure (this time from below) on the lumbar vertebrae, back pain is a natural result. 

Taking care of your psoas

The good news is that a lot of the problems associated with a tight psoas are reversible. At Family Chiropractic & Natural Healing Center, we perform a musculoskeletal assessment to determine if your lower back pain is partially or fully caused by overcontraction of the psoas muscle. If you do nothing about it, the psoas will change to accomodate this position it is constantly asked to assume. Our goal is to train it in the opposite direction- we set a course for rehabilitation that focuses on releasing the muscle from a state of constant contraction.  By restoring pliability to the muscle fibers, you will feel more range of motion and less pain. Give our office in Milpitas a call to schedule an appointment today.