Psoas Release

[May Contain Nuts]

Can you please share your best technique for releasing the psoas?  also, any experiences you can share in regards to psoas release would be greatly appreciated.  I have not gotten comfortable working with this muscle, yet and am looking for a little support  :-[Thanks in advance!~ DAWN

 

[smelly pig]

Dawn, I never got comfortable with releasing this muscle either, becuase while in school I became the example for the "exception."  I have endometriosis, which causes severe pain for most women who have it, so I cannot have any pressure put on my abdomen.  So, there is a great alternative.  STRETCHING!Have your client scootch to the side of the table you're working on, and dangle his/her leg off of the table, with your hip against the table at his/her hip so the client doesn't fall off.  You may need to brace yourself with a hand on the opposite Ilium for support.  The edge of the table should be underneath the middle of the back of the leg.  Now, press the knee down a little until you get a slight stretch, and after 15 seconds, have your client lift the knee resisting your hand for a brief moment.  When the client releases, press the knee further, and continue this pattern until the client's toes touch the floor.  This will gently stretch and release the psoas.

 

[mo2k7us]

Just wanted to state the obvious. Make sure the muscle/s is/are warmed up before doing any stretching.  Especially PNF.

 

[No Way Jan]

I'm not sure if I can explain it well in writing, but have client supine, with knee bent and foot flat on table on the side you are on.  Locate psoas by pressing lateral and downward to rectus abdominus and then do a knee jerk to feel muscle contract so you know you have contacted muscle.  Then have client lower leg and raise arm above head at same time several times to release muscle, while you keep static pressure on the muscle.  I have found this usually releases the psoas quite well.  You can also do the PIR for psoas, which is to have client sitting at edge of table,  pull one knee to chest, tuck chin, and roll back onto table, still holding knee to chest.  You then press on their extended leg down towards table and hold for 5 seconds while the client is resisting your pressing him to table.  Have client relax and you press his leg further towards table.  Do this at least 3 times, each time pressing his leg further into extension. Hopefully, I have described these enough for you to figure it out.   Renee

 

[Brymom02]

There is a really great article in this month's Massage magazine about Psoas release.  I have never worked with releasing the psoas, but this article describes some excellent self-administered techniques for working with the psoas, and also presents a different way of looking at it too.  The authors say that the psoas is an extremely 'emotional' muscle, that is used by the body to protect against trauma, and so releasing it can release a lot of emotional/trauma issues.  They recommend that any practitioner should spend a lot of time working with their own psoas, and understanding it, and releasing their own stored tensions there, before they work with a client's, otherwise they could get badly bitten by the counter-transference.  It's well worth a look, if you can get hold of a copy, or if not, PM me if you're interested in any more details.

 

[Love Me or Hate Me PM]

Psoas Release

Absolutely an emotional storage tank... especially issues relating to sex & sexuality and/or past trauma/abuse. Be gentle

 

[starfire85]

Psoas Release

Found this book on wither another thread about the psoas in our forums or when I was searchign for someting for another thread... either way, here's a link that may help:

http://www.coreawareness.com/products.php

The Psoas Book 2nd Edition
An 85 page perfect bound, soft covered book is a comprehensive guide to the Iliopsoas muscle and its profound influence on the body/mind/emotions.
ISBN #: 0-9657944-0-7
MSRP: $22.95

The Psoas Book can be purchased directly from Guinea Pig Publications. Click here for ordering information.

Chapters include:

Location: explains the exact location of the psoas within the human body and its relationship to muscles, bones and organs.
Function: clarifies the many functions of the psoas and how it serves as a hip flexor, tensile structure, pump and shelf.
Effects: details the effect the psoas has on structural balance, joint rotation, muscular compensations, organ functioning, breathing and emotional well being.
Childhood Conditioning: explains the complexities that are inherent in a short or contracted psoas muscle and looks at the ways a parent can support a child’s growth.
Women’s Cycles: suggests ways of working with the psoas throughout every phase of a woman’s life. Includes how releasing the psoas relieves menstrual cramping and discomforts, supports mother and fetus throughout every phase of pregnancy, eases labor and provides the conditions necessary for vaginal birth. Keeping the psoas functioning maintains stability through the changes of menopause.
The Fear Reflex: offers insight into the voluntary and involuntary flee or fight reflex and the emotional patterns of which the psoas muscle is a part. A strong case is made for not palpating or engaging manipulative/invasive techniques when working with the psoas.
Releasing The Psoas: gives simple instructions how to release, tone and lengthen your psoas muscle.
Approaches to the Psoas: reviews popular body systems and clarifies their somatic way of working with the psoas.
Applications: (i.e. Ergonomics) offers ways to properly support the psoas in everyday activities such as walking, sitting and wearing shoes.

 

[. .]

Psoas Release

The author of the Massage Magazine article and the coreawareness web site are the same -
Massage Magazine March/April 05 http://www.massagemag.com/2005/issue114/toc.htm had a psoas article.

This was the web site of the author -  
http://www.coreawareness.com/

Has anyone actually used the book?  Done any of her courses? The article was certainly well written and informative, so I assume the book would be even more so

 

[Desereh]

Psoas Release

I found a link to a full article by this same woman in massage and bodywork magazine. I found it very interesting!

http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/DecJan2004/Psoas.html

Well, back to de-cluttering the bookcase

Kirsten

 

[Ummar]

Psoas Release

I'm not sure if I can explain it well in writing, but have client supine, with knee bent and foot flat on table on the side you are on.  Locate psoas by pressing lateral and downward to rectus abdominus and then do a knee jerk to feel muscle contract so you know you have contacted muscle.  Then have client lower leg and raise arm above head at same time several times to release muscle, while you keep static pressure on the muscle.  I have found this usually releases the psoas quite well.  

You can also do the PIR for psoas, which is to have client sitting at edge of table,  pull one knee to chest, tuck chin, and roll back onto table, still holding knee to chest.  You then press on their extended leg down towards table and hold for 5 seconds while the client is resisting your pressing him to table.  Have client relax and you press his leg further towards table.  Do this at least 3 times, each time pressing his leg further into extension.

Hopefully, I have described these enough for you to figure it out.  
Renee

That's a good one Renee, similar to how I do it sometimes.  However, my favorite psoas release is from Ortho-Bionomy and is incredibly gentle and effective.

With the client supine lift the leg of the affected side a few inches off the table, laterally rotate, and abduct a few inches off of center. From this position gently apply pressure into the hip along the long axis of the femur...wait for the release 15-60 seconds.  This should not cause pain, but is very relieving to the client.  Of course depending on the client you may have to adjust the leg's position slightly for best results.  There are also variations that include movement of the ribs and lateral flexion of the trunk.  It works very well.

Ben Crabtree, RMT, MTI, CNMT
San Antonio, Texas
http://www.massagebyben.com

 

[Kool Shelby]

Psoas Release

Absolutely an emotional storage tank... especially issues relating to sex & sexuality and/or past trauma/abuse. Be gentle

EgoMagickian makes an excellent point.  I was a victim of sexual abuse as a child, and the first time we worked psoas in school, my head was screaming "NO!" and the person working on me could not get into my abdomen at all. It didn't hurt, so I couldn't understand why I felt so strongly against having that muscle worked.  Then I just burst into tears, and I had no idea why.  My teacher explained to me exactly what EgoMagickian stated above and that my outburst was not uncommon - once she said that, I was able to relax.  I felt much lighter after that session, like something heavy had been lifted from me.  I think it was more of an emotional release then a physical one.  

I just wanted to share that, in the event you ever have that experience with a client.  It really helped me to know that having an emotional reaction was not unusual.

 

[yooo]

I am a huge fan of the psoas release.  It does more to help release the back and pelvis than just about anything else.  Be careful hanging the leg off the side of the table and doing PNF on someone with an exaggerated anterior pelvic tilt.  That technique is great to release psoas with someone who has 0 degrees of anterior tilt or even posterior tilt, which is not very common, but it can actually increase anterior tilt. Remember how many actions the psoas has.  The best way I know to release psoas when the person has an exaggerated anterior tilt is this:  have the client lie supine with one knee up and foot on the table.  To locate the psoas draw a line from the navel to the ASIS.  Then place your fingers just medial to that line about half way between the navel and ASIS.  Place your elbow on the clients knee and have them gently pull the knee toward the chest.  If you feel the muscle push against your fingers you are on it.  Then have the client slowly slide the leg down the table and straighten the knee, dorsiflex the foot and laterally rotate the femur, and bring it back to neutral.  Then slowly bring the knee back up.  To increase the release they can extend the same arm above the head.  Then move your fingers distally, find another point and have them do the motion again.  You can also use this technique to release the Iliacus and the transverse and obliques.Psoas work is very rich for both practitioner and client. I hope this helps.  

 

[XMS]

Hey Dawn!  Sad to say, but that daggone psoas muscle can be a bear.  Try having the client lay in supine position, bring leg up with knee bent (ankle parallel with knee), push foot inward toward your client's superior and perform your PNF three times.  You can also have client (in same position) bring foot out in opposite direction (laterally) and PNF this as well.  Hope this helps out!

 

[Scooby69]

What a great thread -- I hope it's okay to attach a question here, but I just have to know.  I went in for a much-needed massage recently and specifically requested Psoas work.  I try to get it done just before my Chiropractic appts. so that I adjust better.  Anyways, the therapist didn't do ANYTHING to my psoas - he worked my lower back a little.  I didn't say anything, but I was rather frustrated when I left.  Then I started wondering if maybe he knew some special way to get to psoas through the lower back, but that seems absolutely absurd to me!  We were always taught that you cannot access the psoas through the back - to always go through the abdomen.  Just looking for input as to whether I'm crazy or not! Thanks much as always!

 

[Sick Jane]

Psoas Release

Nope. Cannot get Psoas through the erector spinae/spine. Some work the psoas prone, hooking fist or fingers anteriorly.  (no thank you). I think I've heard of some claiming that they can in fact go directly through the erectors. I'd like to see that.

 

[tinkerbelle]

Psoas Release

A quote from my thread: My Rolfing Experience

A sample of the "psoas work"

• Client supine (on the spine) with knees bent and soles of feet flat on the table
• Practitioner stands at side of client facing toward the clients head
• Practitioner places the fingers (hands in a knife edge type hold - lateral edge of hand is perpendicular to the floor and fingers are pointed toward the clients head) into the psoas region, firm but not so deep, and the client is asked to raise the sacrum/pelvis toward the ceiling.  As the client does this, the therapist is able to go deeper with the fingers into the bilateral psoas and apply pressure.  Client lets sacrum down as best possible, which is somewhat prohibited by the locking in of the fingers.  (I felt an immediate sense of improvement in my psoas areas.)  Practitioner removes fingers by "jiggling" them side to side as they come away from the tissue.

 

[Miss. Weasley]

I love to work the psoas, but then again I love rock climbing, bullet dodging, and other things that are rather challenging and slightly risky.  The first thing to remember with the psoas, is that it is surrounded by guts, and neighbor to some large veins and arteries.  I'm a believer inusing very light compression and high-intensity energy to gain access to deep tissues any where on the body. Dance with the tissues and you'll waltz your way in.  The psoas requires your greatest patients here. Time and tenderness will get you there better than trying to force it. The ab. muscles may tense up to force you out if you use too much force. Likewise, there may be emotional guarding, ticklishness, or smoker's cough keeping you out.  Have you tried putting your client into a sidelying posture?  I've had good results with this one when supine hasn't worked out. Not only does it shorten the muscle, but gravity does the job of displacing the internal organs.  Gravity also gets excess ab.-fat out of the way, so it is usually the first approach I'll take on a larger client. Some times the client just can't let you in. Try treating the muscle at it's attachment site at the lesser trocanter. If you can get access to "Basic Clinical Massage Therapy" by, James H. Clay and David M. Pounds, they demonstrate several approaches to the psoas.   Best of luck.

 

[dickie]

Psoas Release

A sample of the "psoas work"

Client supine (on the spine) with knees bent and soles of feet flat on the table

Practitioner stands at side of client facing toward the clients head

Practitioner places the fingers (hands in a knife edge type hold - lateral edge of hand is perpendicular to the floor and fingers are pointed toward the clients head) into the psoas region, firm but not so deep, and the client is asked to raise the sacrum/pelvis toward the ceiling.  As the client does this, the therapist is able to go deeper with the fingers into the bilateral psoas and apply pressure.  Client lets sacrum down as best possible, which is somewhat prohibited by the locking in of the fingers.  (I felt an immediate sense of improvement in my psoas areas.)  Practitioner removes fingers by "jiggling" them side to side as they come away from the tissue.

Texas-gal, this technique is awesome!  I decided to try it on myself last night, and I was amazed at how easy it was.  My husband has constant low-back pain, and usually I cannot get deep enough into his abdomen to effectively work psoas - I tried this technique on him, and his pain was immediately reduced by about 75%.

Thank you for sharing your experience! ;D

 

[Nelly]

Psoas Release

Check out http://www.orthomassage.net James Waslaski's web site,It would be best to take a seminar with him but his book discribes it well (release the Iliacus first).  The Psoas attatches to lumbar vertribri and when tight (sitting, driving, and being in flexion much of the time it is tight on many people) can cause LBP. I have a notebook with a photocopy from an anatomy book of these muscles and show and explain what I'm going to do and why it's necessary.Always ask permission to work directly on the skin and work with the breath-- they need to be relaxed.I use this in the chiro's office and on private clients with good results.You can really help with this technique.