Understanding the Iliopsoas

by Greg Morling

One of the most enigmatic muscles in the human body is the iliopsoas and I suspect that a significant number of massage and other tactile therapists are puzzled about how to manage this enigmatic muscle in the clinical setting. In researching and reading the vast amount of literature written about this amazing muscle, it appears that just like one of Pablo Picasso’s cubist paintings, it possesses many angles and ambiguities that make it both fascinating and profoundly difficult to address and treat in practice.

The Iliopsoas (or psoas) is unique as it has both a biomechanical and psychosomatic side.

It is the only muscle that joins the spine to the legs. While many texts explain that it is a major hip flexor, my dissections of this muscle at the University of NSW and research over five years indicate that its major role is one of stability. It may well be responsible for lower back pain, sciatica and even menstrual pain. We may also include biomechanical problems such as pelvic tilt, leg length discrepancies, kyphosis and lumbar lordosis.

The survival response may also be activated when the iliopsoas muscle is palpated. Some of us in clinical practice may have experienced overt emotional and/or strong physical reactions from clients when we use direct palpation techniques to the psoas major. It could be argued that direct palpatory techniques may trigger reactive compressed energy originating from unresolved trauma that is present in the iliopsoas.

The iliopsoas muscle is an essential part of the instinctive fear reflex and, as such, it is very sensitive. It should also be noted that this muscle is responsible for taking the body into a fetal position to protect the vulnerable organs of the body from a deadly blow or fall. It is not unreasonable, therefore, to assume that iliopsoas is the muscle that holds this reactive response energy to protect the body from harm.

The possibility of eliciting the fear reflex response with invasive palpatory techniques is something that we need to be aware of as a clinical possibility. To take this one logical step further; invasive massage techniques such as direct finger frictions, could have the unfortunate effect of further traumatizing the iliopsoas muscle.

I often say that the Iliopsoas is the closest place to our human soul. We are still finding new clues as to what the Ilopsoas does on both a biomechanical and psychosomatic level and you can hear much more about this muscle by attending the Jing College webinar (UK) by registering for the webinar I will give soon and it’s completely free: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7809924914553022465

Greg Moring is a Remedial Massage Therapist and Board Member of ATMS. He presents workshops on Understanding Back Pain, Arthritis and The Iliopsoas around Australia and New Zealand. More information at www.mostlymassage.com