MYOFASCIAL HEALING

Are you experiencing debilitating back pain in Wilmington? How about excruciating hip pain? Do you wish you could find lasting relief? A muscle you may have never heard of is likely the culprit. If you’re looking to transform your relationship to back and hip pain in Wilmington, read on! 

 

The psoas (pronounced “so – az”) is a bilateral muscle that primarily flexes the hip and the spinal column. At about 16 inches long on the average, it is one of the largest and thickest muscles of the body. This powerful muscle runs down the lower mid-spine beginning at the 12th thoracic vertebrae, connecting to all the discs of the lumbar vertebrae down across the pelvis, attaching on the inside of the top of the leg. The lower portion combines with fibers from the iliacus muscle, which sits inside the surface of the pelvis and sacrum, to become the Iliopsoas muscle as it curves over the pubic bone and inserts on the top of the thigh bone.

(P)so(as) what?

 

You might be wondering how this anatomy lesson relates to your pain. Let’s say you’ve been working out or walking one of the many beautiful beaches around Wilmington: hip pain! Back pain! Suddenly one or both of these flare up. Something just doesn’t feel right. Here’s how how it all ties together (literally)...

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Shortening of the psoas leads to a host of unfortunate conditions. Inevitably, other muscle groups become involved in compensating for the loss of structural integrity and pelvic instability. Pelvic instability shows itself as pelvic tilts, forward flexion, twists, and torques. Symptoms associated with instability include mid and low back pain, hip socket tension, leg length discrepancies, knee and ankle problems, TMJ and jaw pain, difficulty in breathing, groin pain, shoulder pain, difficulty in standing and walking, and excessive muscle tension throughout the body. Even headaches and dizziness may be traced to pelvic instability! The psoas is also part of the fear reflex (the fight or flight response), and has a great deal to do with your emotions. Releasing the psoas can help with the process of healing deep fears and traumas.

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Myofascial Release Therapy uses gentle sustained pressure and a variety of techniques to help soften and release the psoas, as well as surrounding Structures. This way, your pelvis can assume a more symmetrical position. John Barnes Approach trained therapists are also guided in how to support the therapeutic healing process in a safe and non-judgemental way.