Many people don’t realize that the root cause of some of their pain and other health problems might be tight hip flexors.
The impact the hips have on the whole body never occurred to me until I saw the effect tight hip flexors had on the health and well-being of many of my patients over the years.
Tight or locked hip flexors can contribute to the following problems:
- Nagging joint pain in the legs, lower back or hips.
- Walking with discomfort.
- Hips locking up.
- Bad posture.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Sluggishness in day to day life.
- High anxiety.
- Lack of explosiveness in the gym or sports.
Do you find it surprising that all of this might be simply caused by this one tight muscle?
Many people suffer from tight or locked hip flexors, especially those who sit for hours each day, but few realize the impact on your whole body.
Again, everything flows through the hips. They help to support the strength and health of your entire body.
AT THE VERY HEART OF THIS ARE TWO POWERFUL PRIMAL, FIGHT OR FLIGHT MUSCLES – the Iliacus and the Psoas Major. Together, they are known as the Iliopsoas.
Your hips are the bridge between your upper body and lower body. They are at the center of your body’s movement.
Sitting within the well of your hip and lower spine is the psoas major muscle, one of the two muscles that makes up the iliopsoas.
It’s often called the “mighty” psoas (pronounced so-az) for the many important functions it plays in the movement of your body.
The psoas is the only muscle in the human body connecting the upper body to the lower body.
The muscle attaches to the vertebrae of the lower spine, moves through the pelvis and connects to a tendon at the top of the femur. It also attaches to the diaphragm, so it’s connected to your breathing, and upon it sits major organs.
A properly functioning psoas muscle creates a neutral pelvic alignment, stabilizes the hips, supports the lower spine and abdomen, supports the organs in the pelvic and abdominal cavity and it is what gives you great mobility and core strength.
When it functions well, it has the power to ….
- … Help the body metabolize (burn) fat.
- … Help improve athletic performance.
- … Help improve strength training and endurance.
- … Help improve energy levels.
- … Help you sleep more comfortably and soundly through the night.
Put simply, this muscle is the core of activity in your body. So, when it’s out of balance or if the psoas tightens, serious consequences can flow throughout the body.
And there’s one activity, in particular, that’s the sworn enemy of your psoas muscle…SITTING
BULGING BELLY SYNDROME
My patients sometimes wonder why their stomachs stick out, even though they’re hammering the core exercises every day. It’s a common myth that bulging belly is due to weak abdominal muscles. The real cause is likely to be tight psoas muscles, which cause the lower back to curve, pushing out the stomach. When the psoas works properly, it pulls the abdomen back, tucking the tummy in, adding to the appearance of a strong, flat stomach.
FAT LOSS INHIBITOR
As the body’s “fight or flight” muscle, your psoas is deeply connected to our natural survival instinct. It instantly tightens in moments of danger to either protect you (in a fetal position) or help you run, fueled by the release of adrenaline. However, with your psoas constantly tight, it’s as though you are in constant danger. When your body is stressed, it often switches into fat storing mode in anticipation of danger. So, if fat loss is an issue for you, tight hips might be to blame.
UNCOMFORTABLE SLEEP
Sitting all day causes your hips to become stuck in a forward thrust position. This leads to pulling on the lower back and decreased blood flow and circulation through the hips. This tightness results in physical discomfort, making it more difficult to fall asleep and more likely to wake up throughout the night.
Getting regular chiropractic checkups and adjustments can improve both spinal function and reduce the stress response. Myofascial release therapy will also assist in releasing the locked hip flexors.