- Psoas Question

[Guest guest]

Let's start with specific location. I know you have already

ordered " Trail Guide to the Body " and have access to this

information but I am going to spell it out for those on the list who

don't.

The full name is the iliopsoas, consisting of the psoas major and

iliacus muscles. Psoas Major originates on the bodies and transverse

processes of the lumbar vertebrae It inserts on the lesser

trochanter of the femur (a bony protusion on the inside of the

femur, just below the head of the femur). The iliacus originates on

the iliac fossa (the entire inner surface of the pelvic bone). It

also inserts on the lesser trochanter of the femur.

Both muscles flex, laterally rotate, and adduct the hip joint.

When dysfunctional, they can be the source/cause of all kinds of

problems. They can contribute to lower back pain as well as cause a

posture of anterior pelvic tilt. Because of the direction of force

that they exert when contracted, they can also contribute to hip

subluxation problems. I am going to cite some passages from " The

Psoas Book " to further illustrate what a dysfunctional Psoas can

cause.

" A shortened psoas...may be seen as a forward thrusting of the

pelvis, creating rotational differences in the spine, pelvis and

legs. These are seen as exaggerated curves in the lumbar, thoracic

and cervical spine...In the pelvis the results of a shortened psoas

include forward thrust, lateral tilt, and twisting. In the femurs,

effects include differences in lateral and medial rotation...lateral

differences in the psoas resting length will affect not only

posture, but also the range of movement possible...If the psoas is

more contracted on one side, it may cause that leg to shorten...When

the psoas is shortened...the ribcage will be thrust forward,

encouraging thoracic rather than abdominal breathing. When pulled

forward and down, the ribcage stops the diaphragm from descending

fully; its range of motion is lost. When the diaphragm can no

longer fulfill its function of stimulating and massaging the organs,

nerves and blood, circulation will be impaired...A contracted psoas

will shorten the trunk, affecting the structural position of the

skeleton and lessening the internal space available for the organs

and viscera. Food absorption and basic elimination is disturbed as

the metabolic rate is affected by the lumbar plexus and its

autonomic neighbors. When the psoas muscle is not engaged properly,

nutritional exchanges suffer...effectively in turn affects the

functioning of the adrenals and kidneys. The reproductive system

too is affected, not only through the nerve supply but also through

the positioning of the organs in the pelvis. For many women,

menstrual cramps are not the result of cramping inside the uterus,

but are caused by the psoas putting pressure on the organs. "

Etc. I think you get the idea.

The " standard " Swedish massage treatment for a tight Psoas is cross

fiber friction. I don't rank this in the same class of torture as

classical Rolfing or NMT, but it sure can be a second cousin at

times. (On that note, one of my classmates the last four days is an

NMT practitioner and another is a Rolfer. The NMT person gave her

background by saying " I'm a PT and certified in NMT, which means I'm

a certified torturer. " The Rolfer followed by saying " I'm a Rolfer

in (someplace). I guess that makes me a torturer also. " )

At any rate, you access the Psoas by having the person supine with

the affected leg slightly flexed and laterally rotated (bend the

knee and drop the leg laterally to the side). The Psoas runs in a

line roughly between the umbilicus and the ASIS of the pelvis.

SHORT fingernails are mandatory for this. Put your fingertips

against the side of the abdomen along that line. SLOWLY, and only

when the person exhales, press your fingers into the abdomen toward

the table. It is absolutely critical that you do this slowly and

gently or the body will force your hands out. At any rate, go just

a bit deeper with each exhale (you may have to push the ascending or

descending colon out of the way to get to the muscle) until you feel

the muscle tissue. You can verify that you are on it by having the

person very slightly flex their hip. If you are on it, you will

feel the muscle contract. If you don't feel the contraction, keep

going deeper until you do. This is not painful if done properly but

can be very uncomfortable if rushed and not done with proper respect

to the body.

Once you are on the muscle move your finger tips back and forth

across the muscle fibers in a frictioning motion until you feel it

soften and loosen. Move up (toward the umbilicus) and down (toward

the hip) along the entire muscle, performing cross fiber friction

along the entire length of the muscle.

You can treat the iliacus the same way except you come in from the

lateral border of the pelvic bone. This is easier to access becuase

you don't have other abdominal tissues in the way. Iliacus fibers

basically run vertically so your frictioning motion needs to be

horizontal (side of the body toward mid-line and back).

Self treatment involves controlled, resting, stretching. I will try

to summarize the instructions from the same book.

" To release and lengthen the psoas involves time. A good place to

begin is the 'constructive rest position.'...This position allows

the psoas to release naturally as the person relaxes… Lie on a

padded floor, on your back, with your knees bent at a 45 degree

angle, and your feet on the floor. Separate your feet and your

knees the width of your hip sockets (remember they are located in

the front of your pelvis). Place a towel no thicker than 1-1/2

inches under the back of your head. Fold the towel neatly so that

it is flat and place it under the upper half of the skull, not under

the neck. The function of the towel is to support the cervical

spine so that it is at the same level all along the back. The head

should not tilt forward toward the chest or backward toward the

floor. Allow your arms to rest at the sides of your body, on your

pelvis, or cross your arms and rest them over your chest.

When you first lie down, if you notice that your back is arched,

leave it; do not try to force it to the floor…Instead of `trying' to

get physically comfortable, allow your thoughts to quiet, and bring

your attention to sensing your body, especially the inside of your

pelvic region. As you lie there, the lower spine will begin to have

weight and will eventually release and lengthen along the floor all

by itself, without you forcing it to happen. This is a result of

the psoas muscle releasing…Force is neither needed nor helpful!

When you are ready to leave the position, roll over and rest for a

moment. Get up slowly. Don't pull yourself up out of the position

with your neck muscles.

Lieing down in the constructive rest position for ten to twenty

minutes every day revitalizes the body… "

This is a good starting point. There are additional exercises for

lengthening and toning the psoas that I can post separately if

anybody wants them.

I will also take a look at some of my polarity and acupressure books

to see if any of them also address the psoas specifically. If I

find anything, I will put out a supplemental post.

What would I do personally? Well, I'm kind of lazy (and getting

more so as time goes by). I would probably sit on the person's

right side, put my left hand under them with the tips of my fingers

contacting the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae, and

direct my right hand finger tips through the abdomen along the line

of the psoas muscle - and then just hang out there to see what

happened energetically. I would also move my right hand down so I

was contacting the iliacus muscle on the inner surface of the iliac

fossa. I would probably take this approach because energy work

obviously fascinates me (partly because I seem to get results with

it that I can't any other way). Or if I can some other way, I get

them quicker, easier, and with less trauma to the person I am

working on and my own body.