Have you ever heard of the psoas muscle, sometimes called the body's "hidden core"? It is one of the most important muscles for overall body function and stability, but for some reason, it is often neglected.

It's the bridge that connects our upper and lower body, influencing proper posture and facilitating movements like walking, running, and bending. Low back pain, hip discomfort, and restricted mobility are common problems, and tight psoas can be the cause. This happens as a result of prolonged sitting, poor posture, and repetitive movements.

This is why we all need psoas muscle massage. Targeted fascia manipulation, known as fascia blasting, can alleviate the tension and stiffness that builds up in the psoas.

Let's explore the benefits of fascia manipulation for the psoas muscle, including how it can relieve pain and bring many other positive effects.

Psoas Muscle: Anatomy and Function

The psoas is one of those deep core muscles that many people don't realize are there. But it's very powerful and important since it runs along both sides of your spine. It originates from the lower vertebrae of your lumbar spine and stretches all the way down to the top of your thigh bone (femur).

As it crosses over the hip joint, we can say it connects the upper and lower body. The psoas and the iliacus muscle form the iliopsoas group, which are called hip flexors. Without them, you couldn't lift your legs and bend at the waist.

Because of its deep location, the psoas also has a close relationship with other muscles and structures in the body. It stabilizes the spine and the pelvis. The psoas also influences your overall posture, working together with your glutes and abdominals to keep your body upright.

Why Fascia Matters for Psoas Muscle Health?

One famous physical therapist described the fascial system as "the information superhighway of the body," and that's a really good way to creatively explain fascia.

Fascia is a thin, flexible layer that wraps around and holds together everything inside you, from your muscles and bones to your organs and nerves. Picture it as a web of support that keeps your body moving fluidly and staying in alignment.

When it comes to the psoas muscle, fascia is equally important. It's not just a passive layer. Fascia actively influences how well your muscles move, how your posture holds up, and even how pain signals travel through the body.

The fascia surrounding the psoas muscle can get tight or restricted, similar to anywhere else in the body. However, since people nowadays sit a lot, the psoas is especially at risk. The impact of prolonged sitting on the psoas muscle should make you more cautious about your sedentary habits, as it can lead to discomfort, pain (hip and lower back pain are most common), and other problems.

Benefits of Fascia Manipulation for the Psoas Muscle

Here's a deeper look at the benefits of targeting the fascia around this vital muscle:

Increased Flexibility and Range of Motion

We must preserve the muscle's ability to extend and flex. Regular walking, running, and stretching are very important to achieve this, but fascia blasting is also necessary. If we skip fascia manipulation, we neglect the fascia, which directly affects its natural flexibility.

Pain Relief

Pain relief is one of the most direct benefits of fascia blasting for the psoas. Tight psoas causes chronic lower back, hip, and pelvic pain, which can become a serious problem over time. You can easily relieve or even eliminate these issues with regular fascia massage.

Improved Posture and Spinal Alignment

The psoas muscle is not the only, but probably the biggest factor in maintaining proper alignment between the spine, pelvis, and legs. I can pull the pelvis forward, causing an exaggerated curve in the lower back (anterior pelvic tilt) and leading to poor posture. Fascia manipulation improves balance and flexibility in the psoas, allowing the spine and pelvis to realign naturally without invasive interventions.

Enhanced Movement Efficiency

Healthy, well-functioning psoas makes everyday movements—like walking, climbing stairs, or squatting—more fluid and efficient. Athletes and active individuals often notice improvements in performance (especially during powerful movements like running and jumping) when the healthy fascia around the psoas is well-maintained.

Faster Recovery from Injuries

Unhealthy fascia can prolong injury recovery, hinder blood flow, and increase inflammation in the affected area. Fascia blasting breaks up fascial adhesions and improves circulation around the psoas. Whether recovering from a strain, overuse injury, or surgery, targeting the fascia is essential because it boosts oxygen and nutrient delivery to the muscle and surrounding tissues.

Core Stability and Strength

The psoas is a critical component of your core, working in tandem with the abdominals and lower back muscles to stabilize your body. When the psoas and surrounding fascia are in good condition, your core strength and stability improve. Removing fascial adhesion reduces the risk of injury during activities that require core support, mostly lifting, running, and sudden changes of direction.

Better Mind-Body Connection

Because the psoas major is so deeply connected to both physical and emotional well-being, regular fascia manipulation can help improve the mind-body connection. As muscle tension is released in the psoas, many people experience greater bodily awareness and emotional balance.

How to Perform Psoas Muscle Massage?

Performing a psoas muscle massage has never been easier thanks to our new fascia massage tool - KOAPRO Psoas Massage Tool. Given the deep location of the psoas muscle, you have to follow our How To Use guide and video tutorial to effectively target the psoas:

1. Warm-Up: Begin by lying on your back with your knees bent. Grab the handles of the KOAPRO Psoas Massage Tool and pull both arcs into your midsection to warm up the abdominal muscles. This step helps prepare the area around the psoas for deeper work. The massage will be less successful if you skip this step and fail to loosen up the surrounding tissue.
2. Find the Psoas and Position Yourself: Transition to a plank position next. Support your upper body with your elbows and forearms while your shins and knees rest against the floor. Place the arcs of the KOAPRO Psoas Massage Tool just above your pelvic bone.
3. Apply Pressure: From the same position, shift your body to move the arcs near your outer abs. They should be just below your ribs. Use slow, circular motions from here to work the tool from your pelvis up to your ribs. To increase the effectiveness, apply greater pressure to one side of your body before moving to the other. For even more intense fascia blasting, spread your elbows outward and let your head drop slightly.
4. Think about Breathing: Don't forget the importance of breathing. Inhale deeply when your body is away from the arcs and exhale as you press into them. Holding pressure on tight areas for 5 to 60 seconds is optimal.
5. Follow Up with Stretching: Complement the work with gentle stretches once you've finished massaging the psoas. Focus on hip muscles stretches (Butterfly Pose) to lengthen and relax the muscle.
6. Hydrate: As always with fascia blasting, hydration is key to flush out toxins and support recovery.

Preventive Measure for Psoas Muscle Massage

Bruising, temporary muscle soreness, or mild swelling might occur, and we can even consider them normal. These side effects are only temporary and will go away soon.

The psoas is a deep muscle, and while fascia manipulation can be incredibly beneficial, it's essential to be careful.

• Go slowly: Start with light pressure when doing psoas release and gradually increase the intensity as your body becomes accustomed to the massage.
• Avoid direct pressure on bones: Be mindful of the surrounding pelvic bones and avoid applying too much pressure in these areas.

Never do it on or over a pregnant belly, scars, open skin lesions, scratches, lymph nodes, wounds, rashes, or carotid arteries. Also, if you have any history of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, congestive heart failure, any blood conditions, use of blood thinners, during acute infections, or while receiving cancer treatments, avoid it before talking to a doctor.

Children and older people should be careful, too.

Wrapping Up

Fascia massage, in general, offers so many benefits for both physical and mental well-being.

You can use different KOAPRO fascia massage tools to care for fascia in various body parts, and the KOAPRO Psoas Massage Tool will relieve tension and pain in the psoas muscle.

A healthy psoas muscle is key to a strong connection between the upper and lower body. Beyond physical benefits, fascia manipulation of the psoas also has a significant impact on mental and emotional health. Wondering how? The psoas is the "muscle of the soul" because it is closely related to the body's stress response.

With consistent fascia blasting, you'll be ready to manage the physical and mental demands of everyday life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can fascia manipulation help with both acute and chronic pelvic muscle pain?

Yes, fascia manipulation can effectively treat acute and chronic psoas muscle pain. It targets the fascia surrounding the muscle, reducing inflammation and improving mobility over time.

Are there any contraindications for performing psoas muscle release?

If you have recent injuries, inflammation, or certain medical conditions like hernias or osteoporosis, you should be careful. Talk to your doctor before fascia blasting.

How does fascia manipulation differ from traditional deep tissue massage therapy for psoas muscle health?

Fascia blasting focuses on the fascia layers, while massage therapist during deep tissue massage targets muscle fibers directly. Both can help with psoas muscle tightness, but fascia manipulation works more on improving overall tissue elasticity.

Can psoas muscle massage aid in recovery from injuries such as hip flexor strains?

Psoas muscle massage can help recover from hip flexor strains by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation in the injured area. It also helps gradually restore mobility.

References

Sajko S, Stuber K. Psoas Major: a case report and review of its anatomy, biomechanics, and clinical implications. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2009 Dec;53(4):311-8. PMID: 20037696; PMCID: PMC2796950.

Otsudo T, Mimura K, Akasaka K. Immediate effect of application of the pressure technique to the psoas major on lumbar lordosis. J Phys Ther Sci. 2018 Oct;30(10):1323-1328. doi: 10.1589/jpts.30.1323. Epub 2018 Oct 12. PMID: 30349172; PMCID: PMC6181670.

Merriman T, Hewitt G, Moran A. Exploring the Clinical Response of Childhood Functional Gastro-Intestinal Disorder Symptoms to Deep Tissue Massage of Psoas Muscles: Results of Two-Year Clinical Audit with Telephone Follow-Up. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2020 May 29;13(2):24-32. PMID: 32523642; PMCID: PMC7260133.

Disclaimer: KOAPRO offers a unique range of patented muscle recovery tools and wellness methodologies independently developed from decades of bioengineering, bioscience, and traditional East Asian practices. The content and products provided by KOAPRO are not associated, affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by Ashley Diana Black International Holdings, LLC, nor related to any FasciaBlaster® products or methods. Trademarks, if mentioned, are the property of their respective owners. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice.