The psoas (SO-az) muscle is a very important hip flexor. As such it is attached to the upper, inside femur (lesser trochanter) and to the front (anterior) of the lumbar vertebrae. On top of the psoas muscles lay the intestines and on top of that are positioned the abdominal muscles.

All walking, running, crawling, and kicking activities require you to activate your psoas muscles. In order to sit comfortably your psoas has to be able to relax; sitting for prolonged periods, however can be a perpetuating factor in pain and dysfunction. A psoas that can’t relax can also prevent you from standing up straight, giving you a stooped appearance.

When the psoas has become stuck in contraction or has developed trigger points, the problem generally manifests as low back pain. Sometimes problems also show up as groin pain. A skilled therapist will investigate the psoas of a client who presents with low back pain.

image credited to Real BodyWork

We all need to sleep well each night to be most effective during the day. Some elements of chronic pain can be reduced by ensuring you have the proper mattress.

If you have ever thought about getting a “Sleep Number” bed give me a call and I’ll send you coupon for 10% off a new bed. Hurry, though, because they expire June 30^th, 2008.

A few years ago I bought a “Sleep Number” bed and have been very satisfied. After several months of waking up feeling crooked, with sore hips and a tight back, I figured it was time to investigate mattresses. After doing some research and napping on beds in stores all over Portland, I landed on a “Sleep Number”.

Now, even years later, I can’t wait to snuggle down onto my 35 and dream the night away. Gone are those creaky mornings and the perpetuating factor of a sagging mattress. Of course, that’s just my story. Get your own bed!

As you know one of my favorite topics is the concept of trigger points. But what are trigger points?

A trigger point is a tiny nodule in a tight band of muscle. Trigger points will be very tender when pressed on. One of the most fascinating characteristics of a trigger point is its ability to refer to a distant part of the body. This means that when a trigger point is pressed on, it is not only tender, but you are likely to feel a vague sensation radiating away from the actual point.

For example, a trigger point in the infraspinatus muscle (on the back of the shoulder blade) can refer sensation into the hand. Pain in the knee can be referred from trigger points in the quadricep muscles near the hip. Deactivating trigger points is an essential part of unlocking pain and restoring range of motion.

Trigger points have been studied for several decades now. Arguably, the most comprehensive work is Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual (1983) which was written by Janet Travell, an American physician who treated John F. Kennedy’s post-surgical back pain. She released a second edition in 1992. Other books and workbooks are out on the market now as well.

For a fun and easy way to learn about trigger points to manage your own pain, join me for one of my Soft Tissue Detective Series classes: Pain Relief thru Trigger Points which are offered at Portland Community College. The next series is coming up in mid-May.