There’s a French meaning for the word that they took from the Arabic word, “massa” which comes from the same Latin word that means “mass or dough”.
However, the oldest known origin of the English word “massage” comes from the Biblical Hebrew word “me-sakj” which means “to anoint with oil.”

Massage Therapy is known to promote health and well-being and is probably the oldest healing discipline known to man.

Therapeutic Massage promotes healing to tired and aching muscles and gives relief to aching joints, and it’s good for you!

Having said that… there’s a saying in our Armed Forces that proclaims “Pain is just weakness leaving the Body”.

I disagree!

Tight and aching muscles not only cause pain but can make you feel lethargic, lose energy, productivity and sometimes can have a major affect on your lifestyle and family life.

Pain is there to tell you something.  It’s telling you that something is nor right and something should be done about it.  Fortunately, many of our lads and girls in uniform who cross my table realise this, and address the problem before it becomes too debilitating.  It’s not a sign of weakness.  It’s showing the sense to do something positive to address a potential problem and actually improve their stamina at the same time.

In my clinic, patients mark a chart showing where pain exists.  Quite often, I’ll suggest they place an ‘x’ on the calves.  The response is often “Oh, they’re alright”, but when I start to work on them, it’s a different matter.  It’s amazing just how many Trigger Points I find and often hear “Where in the world did they come from?”

Usually, pain in the body is a manifestation of a problem somewhere else.

Tight hip flexor muscles across the front of the hips or weak abdominal muscles often are a significant contributor to lower back pain. Muscle tightness in the chest often leads to pain in the neck, shoulders and mid back.

One joint hip flexor muscles (ie the Iliopsoas group) goes from the side of the spine from mid to lower back and down across the front of the hips to the top of the legs.  When they are tight, they tilt the hips forward, which causes the smaller muscles in the lower back (from the top of the hips to the spine) to also tighten by default.  This is where you feel sore.

Think about the sore lower back you get after driving or sitting at a desk for several hours without a break.

When you get up to stretch, you generally lean backwards, not forwards.  In other words, you stretch your hip flexor muscles… across the front of your hips… to make your back feel better.

If the spine is too rigid from tight muscles, then the muscles moving the shoulder blades need to work harder and can fatigue or become sore.

Pain in your back, shoulders or knees is usually due to tight or strained muscles in those areas but, in fact, it is often the hip flexors that have caused those muscles to be tight in the first place.

There are times though, when the pain is simply because muscles have been pushed to their limits and are making you pay.

If you regularly endure headaches – muscle contraction, tension or migraine – there’s a strong chance tight muscles other than just those in your neck and shoulders are a contributing factor.

Therapeutic massage improves functioning of the circulatory, lymphatic, muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems and may improve the rate at which the body recovers from injury and illness.

If you’ve never tried massage, you don’t know what you’ve been missing.  Give me a call and arrange an appointment  for some annointment… today.

As with any massage, the patient will remove most of their clothing and lie on a massage table, with some sort of drape over the body. Usually a relaxation massage can be modified and tailored to your specific desires. The massage takes place in a quiet, comforting environment, with soft relaxing music playing in the background.  Some people bring their own CDs.

The therapist applies gentle to medium pressure to the body with the hands, gently manipulating the tissue, and encourage relaxation.

This is not a Deep Tissue or Remedial massage.

It is not designed for working the deeper muscles of the body, but just a gentle kneading and rubbing of the outer layers of the body tissue. It will cover a wide range of areas on the body including the back, shoulders, chest, legs, arms and neck.

Sometimes there is the option of adding some Aromatherapy treatment to your massage therapy.  Aromatherapy oils such as Lavender, can enhance the experience of the massage and allow for greater relaxation. Unscented oil is also an option.

The oil gives a more slippery skin surface for the therapist to work with, which means the hands glide easily with no pulling of the skin. During the massage, the patient can relax and quietly meditate, or they can chat with the therapist.  The time is theirs, and as I said, the session can be personalised to suit the individual.

Many live their demanding lives day to day without taking any time out just for themselves. Everyone deserves time out moment of relaxation and a soothing hour of pampering is just right for that.

This massage will relax your mind and your body… It’s ‘time out’ from the daily stress of your life. The length of the massage will depend on how long you would like it to last. You can have an hour, an hour and a half, or two hours if you wish.

A Relaxation Massage is a smooth, gentle style of massage, and will improve circulation, tone, range of movement, ease minor muscle pain, and promote wellness and relaxation.

Stressed?..  Tired?.. Been burning the candle at both ends?..  Maybe it’s about time you made the call and pampered yourself with a Relaxation Massage!

When we can’t walk or stand because of feet or knee problems, we soon realise how much we take our limbs for granted in our day to day activities.

Despite the fact that arthritis or injury like torn ligaments or tendons are common complaints that cause the loss of mobility, often it is simply a collection of muscular problems causing pain in these areas.

Remedial massage can usually play a major role in either healing or significantly alleviating these problems.

For successful treatment, however, it is important… as in most cases of remedial massage… to consider the overall picture and look at all the muscles affecting the movement of the hips, thighs, knees, legs, ankles and feet, because they are all closely interconnected.

Remember the little ditty that goes something like “The toe bone’s connected to the foot bone’s connected to the leg bone’s connected to the knee bone….” was spot on.

Major leg muscles like Hamstrings, Quadriceps and “Calves” are fairly well known, but there are plenty of others with names names not so common, and their actions also play an important role in movement and stability of the legs and feet, and therefore, the entire body.

It is the feet, ankle and knee joints which support the entire weight of the body. Problems with these areas will cause “flow on” effects throughout body as a whole.

Which muscles to massage.

Starting from the top of the hips, here’s some movement muscles which, in most cases, should be massaged to effectively treat leg, knee or feet problems:

· One joint hip flexor (Iliopsoas) muscles:

From the side of the spine from about mid-back, it passes across the front of the hips to the top of the femur (thigh bone). When the hip flexor muscle on one side of the body pulls tighter than the other, it tilts the hip laterally (upwards) on that side, causing imbalances in most leg muscles. (If there is problems in the lower back, this should always be treated.)

One leg will hang slightly in adduction, the other in abduction, though this may not be evident to the untrained eye.

· Buttocks muscles:

Mainly the Gluteus Maximus, Medius and Minimus and Piriformis muscles, and play a key role in medially and laterally rotating the thigh (turning the leg inwards and outwards) and extending the hip. Problems with these will turn the knee and feet away from their proper alignment, also creating imbalances in leg muscles and exerting unequal forces on the knee joint and feet, in particular the arches.

· Two-joint hip flexor muscles (Tensor Fascia Latae/Iliotibial Band – ITB, Rectus Femoris (main Quadriceps muscle) and Sartorious:

These muscles get their “two joint” name because they go both across the hip joint and the knee joint.

· All the muscles of the thigh and lower leg, some of which go across the knee joint.

It is important to remember most of the muscles that go right to the tips of the toes extend up to just below the knees. So when trying to massage out a foot or ankle problem, it is important to follow the muscles right up to the knees.

· Feet Arches.

Last, but certainly not least, are the feet arches:
Flat feet will cause the legs to medially rotate (turn inwards) at the knees. High-arched feet will cause the legs to laterally (turn outwards) – again causing imbalances in the knees.

If you are being treated for leg, knee, ankle or feet aches and pains which you consider to be related to muscle imbalances (rather than to specific injury) and your practitioner does not include all the above factors, ask why.

Injuries like muscle tears and strains, post-operative recovery procedures, arthritis and gout however, will require more specific or specialised treatments.

Some people put up with leg or other problems for years assuming nothing can really be done when they may simply be related to a combination of tight muscles and easily treated by looking at the “big picture.”

With any massage however, it’s advisable to wear comfortable underwear that’s not too tight.

You’ve probably never given it a thought, but the answer may seem as obvious as breathing in and out.  But except for those rare occasions when we consciously regulate our breathing pattern, we do not decide when to inhale and when to exhale.  And even when we do this “controlled breathing,” it is not just sucking in air, and blowing it out, that gets air down the windpipe into our lungs and out again.

The main work of inhaling and exhaling is done by the contraction and relaxation of our big muscle immediately below the lungs and which marks the “floor” of the chest or thoracic cavity and the “ceiling” of the abdominal cavity.

This muscle is the Diaphragm.

It is the Diaphragm action that causes the lungs to expand and fill with fresh air, then partially collapses to expel used gases.  The muscles and tendons of the Diaphragm are attached to the spinal column at the back, at the front to the breastbone (sternum), and at the lower sides to the lower ribs.

The diaphragm contracts and relaxes as instructed by the brain.   Instructions  are delivered by the nervous system.  When the brain sends a signal to the breathing muscles to contract, the diaphragm is pulled downward, making the space filled by the lungs bigger.  This creates a partial vacuum, and air rushes in and fills the lungs.  When the diaphragm relaxes, the lung space is reduced, and air is expelled.

The diaphragm is an involuntary muscle.   Thankfully, like the heart, it keeps going 24/7 !…  and no…  you can’t kill yourself by holding your breath.

Other Breathing Muscles:

The Diaphragm muscle’s main role in breathing is supported by several other muscles that play minor parts.  These include the Intercostal muscles between the ribs that give the rib cage a slight push upward and outward, enlarging the thoracic cavity, and the Serratus muscles, which are mainly along the ribs, to which other muscles are attached also.

Primary inspiratory muscles include the external intercostals and diaphragm while the main expiratory muscles are the Internal Intercostals, Rectus Abdominus (“abs”), and External and Internal Obliques.

Assisting the inspiratory muscles are the Sternocleidomastoid and Scalenes in the neck, Pectoralis Major and Minor (“pecs”) in the chest, and Serratus Anterior and Latissimus Dorsi (“lats”) in the side of the torso.

Helping us to breathe out is the Serratus Posterior as well as the Quadratus Lumborum and Iliocostalis Lumborum in the back.

These muscles are used in any gym or training session and can often become very tight without you realising it.

Many respiratory muscles also act as “postural” muscles” designed to hold your body erect against gravity and hold a contraction for a long time without fatiguing or feeling sore.  But while there may be no pain, these muscles may still be too tight and affect other muscles.

Proper use of the respiratory muscles is only possible with good posture.  If there is a tendency to shrink forward, it is not possible to completely fill the lungs with fresh air.  If the lower back tends to curve inwards, it is not possible to effectively empty the lungs of air.

When postural problems limit trunk (spinal) rotation and side-bending, both inspiration and expiration become restricted also.

Remedial massage can play an important in helping you breathe easier and feel much better overall by releasing and stretching tight muscles all through the body?  That sharp pain felt in the chest or upper back during deep respiration is due to tension in the deep muscles of the back.

Deep tissue massage will help.

Relaxation, both mental and physical, brings about a decrease in oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles and more compliance of the chest wall.  Massage and practicing a pattern of deep breaths and sighing can reduce the work of breathing and help relax a person having difficulty breathing.  When you breathe easier, you will also sleep easier and more soundly.

Make an appointment today and try a massage which includes all the breathing muscles and see how much better you feel.

If so, do you also spend adequate time stretching the muscles you specifically exercise?

The answer should be a definite “yes.”

But whether you’re a fitness fanatic, an armchair sportsman, or if normal day to day activity is your only exercise, there are some muscles you work hard regularly but rarely or never stretch.

Can you name two of the most heavily exercised but most taken for granted and under-stretched muscles in the body?

Pecs and Hip Flexors:

Ten points if you said Pecs (Pectoralis Major and Minor – in the chest) which draw the arms around to the front, and Hip Flexors (mainly Iliopsoas group – across the front of the hips) which lift the legs.

What singles out these muscles for special mention is that for long periods of each normal day they are being used (contracted) and exercised.

But most people are unaware this is even happening.

Whenever you sit down – for example, at your work desk for most of the day, watching TV or driving a vehicle – the hip flexor muscles stay contracted.

Similarly, every time you work with your arms  to your front – like at a desk or computer, peeling prawns over the sink, laying paving blocks, hammering nails, serving at a counter, etc – your Pec muscles (also known as shoulder medial rotators) are contracted and being exercised.

But even most serious fitness enthusiasts, who would never dream of exercising a  muscle group without also stretching it, ever think about stretching these particular muscles for their routine daily activities.

Now, with all the above in mind, how many of you ever get sore or tight in the lower back, or in the back of the neck and shoulders? (If you answer “no,” you’re definitely in the minority).

Back Pain from the Front:

It may surprise you to know that apart from cases of specific injury or slipped disc, etc., lower back pain or tightness can usually be attributed to tight hip flexor muscles in the front.

Similarly, tight front Pec and other shoulder medial rotators are generally responsible for muscular aches and pains in the back of the neck, shoulders and between the shoulder blades.

One joint hip flexor (Iliopsoas group) muscles go from the side of the spine from mid to lower back and down across the front of the hips to the top of the legs. When they are tight, they tilt the hips forward, which causes the smaller muscles in the lower back (from the top of the hips to the spine) to also tighten by default. This is where you feel sore.

Think about the sore lower back you get after driving or sitting at a desk for several hours without a break.

When you get up to stretch, you generally lean backwards, not forwards. In other words, you stretch your hip flexor muscles – across the front of your hips – to make your back feel better.

• When Pec muscles are tight, they make the shoulders rounded and pull the cervical spine and head forward.

• For the eyes to focus ahead rather than down, muscles in the back of the neck and shoulder area are forced to tighten to pivot the head back and upward on top of the neck.

What this all means is pain in the lower back and shoulder areas is often just a symptom – not the main cause of the pain, which is often in the front of the body.

As unlikely as it sounds, it may be that releasing tight hip flexors in the front is also needed to help alleviate pain between the shoulder blades at the back.

It could be that a tight hip flexor on one side raises one hip higher than the other. This in turn tightens muscles on one side of the spine in the lower back, which in turn pull on other spinal muscles up between the shoulder blades on that side.

Unfortunately, for time, cost and other reasons, many health professionals focus on only treating the SYMPTOM, not the CAUSE, in the case of muscular aches and pains.

Take the Time:
However, most qualified and experienced remedial massage therapists are prepared to take the time to not only relieve the symptom, but also try to determine and remove the main cause or contributing factors.

Remedial Massage and stretching can alleviate or heal most muscular aches and pains, as well as have many other benefits.

If you’re experiencing muscular pain in your body, make an appointment today.  You’ll be surprised at the difference a Remedial Massage can make.

Posture is the bearing in which you hold your body plumb when you are standing, sitting or lying down.  Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during activity or weight-bearing movements.

Correct Posture:

• Keeps bones and joints correctly aligned so that muscles are being used properly.
• Decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the vertebrae together.
• Decreases the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that can bring upon arthritis.
• Prevents the spine becoming fixed in abnormal positions.
• Reduces fatigue.
• Prevents strain or overuse problems.
• Prevents back and muscular pain.
• Contributes to a good appearance.

It’s mortifying to hear “Posture is inherited.  My parents had bad posture, so did their parents, and so I have bad posture too.  I guess I’m just stuck with it”.

What an absolute load of rubbish!  The theory of inheriting bad posture is completely false, so why do so many sufferers of back pain believe it?

The answer is simply that medical profession is failing to help people with postural problems.  So much trust is put into our doctors, that when they can’t help us, we often give up all hope.  What most people don’t realise is that doctors aren’t really experts on posture, and 80% of Australians suffer from back pain.”

Improving your “computer posture” is one of the most effective ways to avoid getting rounded shoulders and neck ache.   While we need to be aware of your posture on any computer, using a laptop makes it is especially easy to pick up bad habits.

The trouble with laptops is that they keyboard and display are too close together, which means you are either you are looking down too much which is bad for your neck, or your hands are too high which encourages tense shoulders.   If only used for short periods at a time, laptops don’t really pose much risk, but increasingly people are spending more hours a day on them.

A sign of the aging process is poor posture, but it is actually possible to prevent this with posture exercises.

We can’t do anything about wrinkles or gray hair as we grow old…  (well, maybe the ladies will disagree,) but it is possible to maintain good posture as we mature.

Avoid sending your child to School.

Obviously, we can’t do that, but watch any child when they are in their preschool years and you will see an example of a good posture.  Children naturally hold no excessive tension in their bodies and move effortlessly regardless of what they are doing.  We look at them galavanting around and think “I wish I could still do that”.  This stops when the child starts school, and is made to sit in poorly designed furniture, in a static position, for hours on end.

Holding the body still for any extended period of time causes the muscles to tire and tense.   A typical school chair slopes backwards, thus tipping the pelvis away from the desk.   This leaves the child with no option but to round their back and shoulders in order to reach their desks.

In countries where children are not made to sit at school desks, you will almost always see that they maintain their perfect posture into adulthood.

Lack of Exercise.

Movement and exercise is commonly overlooked.  Actually they are perhaps one of the best posture exercises that you can do to ensure good health.  The reason for this is that our bodies are designed for continuous movement.   We are never really still for any length of time.  Even the act of standing, which many would assume is a static position, actually involves mini movements that are performed unconsciously over and over.  An exercise you can try is to stand on one leg and then close your eyes and see how hard it is to maintain your balance.  It shows how much we rely on our eyes to make the tiny adjustments in muscle tension that keep us upright.

Despite movement being such an important activity, we often make no plan for it.  Instead, people linger and tell their posture has become progressively worse to the point where they have to go and see a doctor.  Sadly, the doctor has not much to offer for back pain, and anti inflammatories just hide the symptom doing nothing for the cause.  However, if a little exercise were taken a few times a week it would probably have a more significant effect than anything a doctor or surgeon could accomplish.

The major problem seems to be that from the time a child goes to school until a person expires, we are typically expected to spend most of a day in a sitting position.  It’s no wonder that so many people have back pain these days when you consider the time that the average adult will spend in a chair.

In spite of age, muscle strength can be achieved even at 70 and above.  It’s simply a case of use it or lose it…  So use it! Walking, cycling, jogging, swimming, etc are all good posture exercises that you can enjoy and do you a whole heap of good.

Have you ever wondered why one side of your neck sometimes gets really tight.  Maybe it hurts to turn your head to the right.  Stand relaxed and check in the mirror to see if your left shoulder is raised.
You might be thinking you slept badly the night before, but it might be that your crook neck  is an indication of a more extensive muscular imbalance that has been coming on.

Ever felt the outer thigh get really tight or sore on, say, the left leg? Sportsmen might know the muscle as the ITB or iliotibial band.  Possibly combined with that the inner thigh (adductor muscles) on the other leg is tight or sore? Stand relaxed with your arms loosely down by your side and check to see if your right hip is higher than the left.
If in this instance your right shoulder is also lower than the left, you probably have at least a mild scoliosis…  a curvature of the spine.

Posture gives a remedial massage therapist numerous clues about likely causes of muscular and joint aches and pains.

Qualified therapists are trained to recognise what muscles are likely to be involved in postural imbalances, how to check the muscles for flexibility and strength, and how to loosen or strengthen them if there is a problem.

It can go without saying of course,that postural problems may be due to an injury, a birth defect or other reasons.  However, in the vast majority of cases it is simply due to an imbalance in the muscles between left and right side of the body, or the front and back.

As well as Remedial Massage, a therapist will often give stretching exercises to help correct a problem.

When muscles feel knotted, tense or damaged a Deep Tissue can provided a soothing treatment either applying it shallow or deep.  It can be gentle or harder.

Deep Tissue (Remedial) Massage concentrates on the deeper layers of muscle tissue releasing the persistent forms of tension in the body through purposeful strokes and deep pressure on the tight areas, and along or across the fibers of the muscles, tendons and fascia.

It also helps to reduce and eradicate scar tissue.

Remedial massage usually targets specific areas and may cause some discomfort during or after the massage.  If the massage is done correctly however, you should feel much better within a day or two.

The benefits of massage therapy are well known.  People who get a massage before an exams or other potentially stressful situations had a significant reduction in anxiety and respiratory rates.

Office workers who get a regular massage are more alert, perform more efficiently and are less stressed than those who aren’t massaged on a regular basis.

Massage has become an integral part of the athletic brigade from sports medicine clinics, to professionals locker rooms and Olympic training squads.

Trainers now believe that massage can provide an extra edge to the athletes who participate in high performance sports and has become a necessary component in a complete training session.

Anyone who stretches their physical limits through movement such as running, golf, swimming, football and racquet sports, strength training and aerobics can benefit from a massage.

There’s another group who engages in daily strenuous activities that are not normally classified as exercise.  Mothers with small children for starters, gardeners, delivery drivers and others who use their bodies strenuously in their work.

Including massage in your fitness agenda has a plethora benefits.  It helps you get into shape sooner, with less aches and pains. It helps you recover faster from intense workouts… gives relief conditions which may cause possible injury… provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion, and enhances athletic performance.  It is also beneficial treating injuries caused during sport or work.

People who experience regular massage therapy claim that they have an increased sense of daily well-being, better posture and more energy.

If you haven’t tried deep tissue massage therapy make a call today.  Arrange an appointment and experience the many benefits that deep tissue massage has to offer.  With any massage however, it’s advisable to wear comfortable underwear that’s not too tight.

Stress can make your life miserable, cause seemingly unexplainable fatigue, and strains your relationships and deminishes your leisure activities.

Friends and family can be unfortunate victims of stress in your life. You will find yourself less patient and less able to mentally engage with the people you care about.
Massage therapy is one of the best antidotes for stress.

If the untrained hands of a friend or spouse can soothe aches and pains in a ‘neck massage’, imagine the effect of a therapeutic massage by a trained therapist.  Even the rituals of massage come as a welcome break from our hurried lives.

Dimmed lighting, soothing music, the pleasant aroma of a mild oil will help you relax… even without massage.  However with the right massage technique, you can actually feel the stress leaving.
Along with reducing muscular tension, massage boosts the body’s immune system, which can become undermined from extended periods of stress. Tension can build up in the muscles, reducing circulation and nutrient delivery and you can find yourself being a little ’snappy’ with those around you.

Knots or tight spots in your muscles can inhibit your daily performance and are there to tell us that something is wrong.  As other parts of your body try to compensate, they will also start to become tight.

With a Remedial Massage, stress can be significantly reduced.  You’ll find increased energy, and there will be a boost your immune system and the result will be change for the better.

If you haven’t tried Remedial Massage and you’re experiencing stress… make a call today.  Arrange an appointment and experience the many benefits that Remedial Massage has to offer.  With any massage however, it’s advisable to wear comfortable underwear that’s not too tight.

You’ll find a Wry Neck, also called Torticolis, will appear upon waking in the morning or from a sudden, quick movement involving the neck.  In the lead up to condition the patient has usually performed activities that involve slouching, poor posture, repetitive neck movements or over lifting.

This gradually stretches tissue in the neck over time, causing injury to the facet joint.  A Wry Neck may also occur due to sleeping in the breeze of an open window or under a fan.

Symptoms of a Wry Neck.

Patients with a Wry Neck feel sharp pain to one side of the neck. They will find it difficult to turn the head to the painful side and will adopt an unnatural stance due to pain.  This is due to the contraction of the Sternocleidomastoid muscle giving a lateral distortion of the head towards the side of the spasm.

The patient is usually finds this difficult to sit or stand normally this due to muscle spasm and pain.  Pain may be referred into the shoulder blade, upper back or the arm on the affected side.

Symptoms are usually compounded by turning the head to the affected side, bending forwards or leaning sideways, lifting, arching backwards or slouching for extended periods.

Sometimes there may be no identifiable reason as to why the symptoms have started.

Apart from sleeping in the breeze of an open window or under a fan, contributing factors can also be:

• Bad posture
• Neck joint stiffness
• Muscle weakness or tightness
• Incorrect lifting technique
• A lifestyle or occupation involving sitting at a computer or driving for long periods, bending, or lifting heavy objects.

Treatment for a Wry Neck

Most patients with a wry neck will respond to massage  and recover quickly and a competent therapist will work within your pain threshold.  If you display the above symptoms arrange an appointment and begin to feel the relief  massage has to offer.

The Psoas is the only muscle to connect the lumbar spine to the legs.
The Psoas is perhaps the single most involved muscle, and it is the cause of most grief in the low back, neck, shoulders and especially the hip joint.  Often, the patient will complain of feeling sore in the groin.

A contracted Psoas will significantly reduce performance in athletes and accident victims and has a detrimental affect on our ability to function properly at work.  When it is released, it gives a profound feeling of relief, and is likened a heavy weight being removed from their hips and lower back.

The psoas major plays an important role in maintaining the lumbar lordosis.  Contractures of one or both psoas muscles, the major and minor, through over use or muscular imbalances will definitely affect pelvis rotation.

In most back and hip pain complaints, the cause is often the psoas muscle which is one of the most important muscles in the body.

Problems related to the Psoas include:

Low back pain, sacroiliac pain, sciatica, disc problems, spondylolysis, scoliosis, hip degeneration, knee pain, and menstruation pain.

The list can also include pelvic tilt, leg length discrepancies, lumbar lordosis and kyphosis.

The Psoas, with an average length of 400 millimeters, flexes the hip and the spinal column. It’s a very powerful muscle, and runs down the lower mid spine beginning at the 12th thoracic vertebrae connecting with the vertebral bodies, discs and transverse processes down the lumbar vertebrae.  Then it crosses the pelvis to attach at the lesser trochanter on the inside top of the leg.

The lower portion merges 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 lesser trochanter.

What is the function of the psoas?

The smooth, elegant and graceful movement in athletes and dancers are typical of a perfectly functioning Psoas. The Psoas functions as a hip and thigh flexor, which makes it the major walking muscle.
It also keeps the spine vertical, just like the guy ropes on a flagpole to tall radio mast.  If one psoas gets tight or contracted, the opposing one has to stretch, and the spine tilts, and the hips do likewise.  The result is muscles start to ache.

Common Ailments

Sore back, shoulders and knees are common complaints of people who lead a full and active live. Let’s admit it, there are many occupations that are not kind to muscles.

In most cases, one of the major common denominators of these problems is imbalance in a muscle group known as the Iliopsoas aka Psoas Major, Psoas Minor and Iliacus muscles.

These are the hip flexor muscles and extend from along the side of the spine from about mid-torso down to the base of the spine then across the front of the hips to the top of the leg.

Most people are familiar with muscle names like quadriceps (quads), hamstrings, calves, “abs,” biceps, triceps, “lats,” etc because they deliberately exercise them.  But few would know they have this Iliopsoas muscle group let alone its actions and the muscular imbalances it can cause in the rest of the body.

Because Iliopsoas muscles flex the hip, they contract every time you walk, run, jog, climb, sit or bend. Think about how much and how often this happens every day!

They are also postural muscles … in other words, they help hold you upright while you are standing and sitting , and are designed to take a lot of hard work and punishment before they ever feel sore.

But that does not mean they are not tight. If they are, they can put all sorts of uneven pressures on the hip.

They are quite substantial muscles and pull the front of the hips downwards, causing muscles in the lower back and along the spine to tighten as the back of the hips tilt up (hence the back pain).
Among these lower back muscles is the Quadratus Lumborum from the top of the hip on an angle to the spine.  It acts like guy ropes for the spine, helping to stabilise it and keep it balanced.

If the Psoas muscles from one side of the spine pull tighter than the other, it tilts one side of the hips higher, putting uneven pressures along the back of the spine and on several major leg muscles which go across the hips and knee joint.

Because the Iliopsoas group can cause tightness in muscles controlling flexibility of the spine (including Quadratus Lumborum), they also can have a big impact on shoulder muscles.

When you start to raise your arm above your shoulders, at about 150 degrees the shoulder blade begins to rotate upwards and the spine flexes to accommodate this.

If the spine is too rigid from tight muscles, then the muscles moving the shoulder blades need to work harder and can fatigue or become sore.

Pain in your back, shoulders or knees is usually due to tight or strained muscles in those areas but, in fact, it is often the hip flexors that have caused those muscles to be tight in the first place.

Hopefully from the above, you will realise the reason for muscle and joint pain is not always what it seems and that the therapist should look at the bigger picture to give you the most effective treatment.

It’s also a good tip, if you’re ringing around to find a remedial massage therapist is to ask the masseur, “Can you do a Psoas (pronounced so-as) Release?”  A qualified and competent therapist will know straight away what you are referring to.

Psoas Release

A Psoas Release is a technique used to help release tight hip flexor muscles across the front of the hip, to balance the hip and get it back in correct alignment.  This then helps reduce or remove some of the uneven pressures on other muscles in your back and legs.  Without this technique, therapists who only treat the areas you say are sore are often only doing half a job if the hip flexors are part of the problem.

In reality, they may only be treating a symptom of the problem, rather than the probable cause as well.

Health care costs enough without having to make repeated visits for problems which often can be fixed or greatly relieved quickly when a Psoas release is included in the treatment.  I believe the Psoas is such an important muscle, I release it with every massage I perform.

If you haven’t tried massage therapy for a bad back or that pain in your hips, make a call today.  Make an appointment and experience the many benefits that massage has to offer. With any massage however, it’s advisable to wear comfortable underwear that’s not too tight.