Rant Time! Psoas major…a major pain or majorly weak?

Excuse this little rant of mine, anyone who has known me for a while will probably know I like a little rant every now and then.

The cause of this rant was a simple advert on social media for this all singing all dancing new ‘tool’ for massaging the Psoas muscle. Easiest way to describe it would be if you think of a Viking helmet, that but in plastic with the horns straight up. The idea being that you lay on top of it with the horns poking you in the tummy to massage the psoas muscle whilst I imagine you writhe in pain.

So, What Is the Psoas Major.

Psoas major is the largest of the muscle group known as the hip flexors. It is one of only two muscles which cross the hip joint with its origin or where it begins being on your transverse processes (the bits on your spine sticking out to the side) of Thoracic spine 12 and Lumbar 1, 2, 3 and 4. It then runs down your body in and around your pelvis to where it inserts or attaches into the lesser trochanter of the femur.

The main job of the Psoas is to flex the hip or in simple terms to raise your knee in front of your body. Now here is the issue I see with this product, the psoas major is a DEEP muscle, it is classed as an anterior muscle, or on the front of our body, but in reality, it is far closer to our back than our front. Sitting in front of this muscle we have a whole host of other muscles, organs and tissues which these prongs will have to apparently push through or transfer pressure through to have any effect on the Psoas at best will be uncomfortable at worst just straight up damaging other tissues. Whilst I’m sure the product has good intentions I have to ask my self is it the best thing for the job?

Is There an Alternative?!?

ABSOLUTELY! The first question as always is to ask yourself the question why? Why is my hip flexor tight? Is it because you’re an office worker or have another job or pastime which involves you sitting for long periods of time? Or maybe you cycle where you are both asking your hip flexor to work but also in the same bent over sitting position?

Ultimately which ever end of the spectrum you are there are two things to look at. Strength and Mobility.

Is the muscle strong enough to do what you’re asking of it and can it move as far as it should. Potentially these are intrinsically linked together. If a muscle is very tight or immobile it could be from weakness. Therefore, if we strengthen the muscle, it will gain mobility. Equally if the muscle has too much mobility, maybe you have hypermobility, then doing some strength training will give you better control over the range of motion.

Want to know how to stretch or some simple exercises you can use to target your hip flexors? Then get in touch and I will happily help point you in the right direction.

Rant over.