Contrary to certain widespread misunderstandings, manual therapy may safely and successfully treat psoas trigger points within the psoas muscles. Too often, these muscles’ trigger points go unnoticed, and they commonly cause lower back pain.
Even though the muscles are deeply buried, treating trigger points in them is frequently not as challenging as one might think. Although the iliopsoas set (iliacus and psoas) requires extra caution when being treated, a skilled therapist can usually do so with success.
Concerning the Psoas Muscles
Because of their location and function as a cushion for the abdominal viscera, the psoas major as well as the iliacus muscle is regarded as being a component of the rear abdominal wall.
However, it also seems pertinent to include the muscles of the hip given their activity of bending the hip joint.
The psoas minor having a minimal function is missing in around 40% of people and is formed by some higher fibers of the psoas major that insert through a lengthy tendon through the iliopubic eminence. The lumbar lordosis will rise as a result of this muscle’s bilateral contraction.
Psoas trigger points: what are they?
A psoas trigger point is a constricted region that loves to stay tight and never seems to relax inside the facial or muscle tissue of your psoas. These trigger points, which are often referred to as “muscle knots,” may be the source of your body’s discomfort, tightness, and mobility limitations.
Typical Psoas trigger point symptoms
Anywhere throughout the psoas muscle’s whole length, trigger points might form. Pain patterns that are both localized and transferred are frequent signs of psoas trigger points.
- Pain that is localized to the immediate vicinity of the muscle knot
- Pain that originates somewhere else in your body
Your lower back discomfort may very well be caused by this idea of transferred pain.
Localized psoas trigger point discomfort
Localized discomfort from psoas trigger points is often felt deeper in the core, towards the front of the hip, and on the inside of the groin.
Pain that was referred from psoas trigger points
Pain that originates from psoas trigger points is frequently experienced in the lower back muscles, particularly the quadratus lumborum (QL) and spinal erectors.
These pain transmission patterns might be mistaken for problems with the lumbar spine’s discs or joints since the psoas is connected to the transverse nerve roots of the T12-L5 vertebrae.
Pressing on the iliacus, which is located on the iliopsoas muscle further up and closer to the waist, may also cause discomfort to radiate down into the quadriceps and upper leg muscles. This may be a sign that you also need to treat trigger points in the iliacus muscle.
