The Connection Between the Psoas, Pelvis and Lower Back
When people experience lower back discomfort, they often focus on the muscles directly around the spine. But the lower back does not work by itself.
The psoas, pelvis, hips, core and lower back all participate in movement and stability.
The psoas is especially interesting because it connects the upper and lower portions of the body. It is involved in movements such as walking, lifting the leg and changing positions.
At OmassageT.com in Grapevine, Texas, orthopedic massage therapy looks at the body as a connected system. Understanding the relationship between the psoas, pelvis and lower back can provide another perspective on movement, flexibility and stability.
What Is the Psoas?
The psoas is a deep muscle located toward the front of the body.
It connects the lumbar spine with the upper part of the thigh bone and works closely with other muscles around the hip and pelvis.
The psoas participates in hip flexion, such as when you lift your leg or bring your thigh toward your torso.
It also contributes to movements involved in walking and changing positions.
Because of its location and function, the psoas has an important relationship with the lower back and pelvis.
The Psoas and Your Spine
One end of the psoas attaches along the lumbar spine.
This means that the muscle participates in the relationship between the spine and hip.
When you walk, climb stairs or lift your leg, the psoas is involved in the movement.
The body needs muscles around the spine and pelvis to coordinate with the psoas so that movement can occur efficiently.
This does not mean that a tight psoas is the cause of every case of lower back pain. Lower back pain has many possible causes.
However, the psoas can be one of several structures worth considering when looking at movement around the hips and lower back.
Sitting and the Psoas
Sitting keeps your hips in a flexed position.
Because the psoas is involved in hip flexion, spending long periods sitting can place it in a shortened position for an extended period.
This does not mean that sitting automatically causes a tight or unhealthy psoas.
But when someone spends many hours sitting and then suddenly asks their body to run, exercise or perform other demanding activities, the transition from sitting to movement can feel different.
This is one reason regular movement throughout the day can be helpful.
The Psoas and Pelvis
The pelvis is located between the hips and spine.
The psoas crosses the hip region and interacts with structures around the pelvis, making it part of the larger movement system between the trunk and legs.
When you walk, your pelvis has to move while your trunk remains controlled.
When you climb stairs, your hip needs to flex.
When you stand from a chair, your hips and spine coordinate to bring your body upright.
The psoas participates in several of these movements.
Your Core and the Psoas
The psoas is sometimes discussed as part of the body’s “core,” but core performance is more complicated than simply labeling individual muscles.
Your core includes muscles and structures that work together to stabilize and move your trunk.
The psoas interacts with the lumbar spine, pelvis and hip, which means it participates in movements involving the center of the body.
This is another reason core performance is about more than abdominal strength.
Good movement requires coordination between multiple areas.
Walking Requires the Psoas
Walking may seem simple, but it involves an enormous amount of coordination.
Your legs alternate.
Your hips move.
Your pelvis rotates and shifts.
Your spine responds.
Your arms move.
Your core stabilizes your trunk.
The psoas contributes to hip movement during this process.
If movement becomes restricted in one area, your body may adapt by changing how another area participates.
This is why examining movement as a whole can be useful.
Previous Injuries Can Affect Movement
A previous injury can change how a person moves.
Someone who injured a hip, knee, ankle or lower back may unconsciously protect that area.
They may shift their weight, shorten their stride or avoid certain movements.
Even after the original injury has healed, those habits can sometimes remain.
The psoas and surrounding muscles may then participate differently as the person walks, sits, stands or exercises.
Understanding a client’s history can therefore be useful when considering current movement patterns.
The Psoas and Athletes
Athletes place significant demands on their hips and core.
Running, sprinting, jumping, kicking and changing direction all require coordinated hip movement.
For runners and high school football players, for example, the ability to repeatedly move the hips while maintaining control of the trunk is important.
Recovery is not only about the muscles that feel tired after training.
The entire movement system participates in athletic performance.
Why the Psoas Is Often Discussed With the Lower Back
Because the psoas connects to the lumbar spine and crosses the hip, it sits at an important junction between the trunk and lower body.
That makes it easy to understand why people often associate the psoas with lower-back movement.
But it is important not to oversimplify.
Lower back pain can result from many different factors, including injuries and medical conditions. A person should not assume that the psoas is responsible for their symptoms without appropriate evaluation.
The psoas is simply one part of a much larger system.
Orthopedic Massage and the Psoas
Orthopedic massage therapy can work with muscles and soft tissues that contribute to movement.
At OmassageT.com, the approach considers relationships between the hips, pelvis, lower back and surrounding structures.
Depending on the individual, working with areas around the hip and pelvis may be part of a broader session designed to support mobility and relaxation.
The goal is not to force the body or create unnecessary pain.
Sessions are designed to be comfortable and pain-free.
Why Comfort Matters
When the body is subjected to excessive discomfort, it can be difficult to relax.
A comfortable approach allows the client to breathe, communicate and remain relaxed throughout the session.
At OmassageT.com, the focus is on working with the body rather than fighting against it.
This is especially important when working around areas that may already feel sensitive or restricted.
The Psoas Is Only One Piece of the Puzzle
It is tempting to search for one muscle that explains everything.
The human body is more complicated than that.
The psoas works with the hips, pelvis, spine, abdominal muscles and surrounding soft tissues.
Movement depends on all of these areas coordinating with one another.
Rather than asking, “Is my psoas causing my back pain?” a more useful question may be:
“How are my hips, pelvis, core and lower back working together?”
That broader question better reflects how the body actually moves.
Improving Strength, Power and Flexibility
At OmassageT.com in Grapevine, Texas, orthopedic massage therapy focuses on the relationship between different parts of the body.
The psoas, pelvis and lower back are one example of that connection.
Understanding these relationships can help you become more aware of your movement, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting, participate in sports or have a history of injury.
The goal is to support balance, stability, strength, power and flexibility while helping the body move comfortably.
Your body is connected.
Sometimes understanding that connection is the first step toward understanding your movement.
OmassageT.com
110 S Barton #6
Grapevine, Texas 76051
817-305-6548
