The psoas is a deep-seated muscle connecting the lumbar vertebrae to the femur. This muscle is often called your core muscle because the psoas is the only muscle that connects your torso and legs, which stabilises your spine and posture. If your psoas is weak, it can be challenging to do daily exercises or strenuous work.
When the psoas is stressed you may feel pain in your lower back, sacrum and lower abdomen while performing simple everyday movements such as walking or standing up. Because the psoas muscle is so deep inside the body, treatment should include safe and focused stretching and strengthening exercises.
As far as acupuncture is concerned, a muscle this deep can't be reached using acupuncture needles. But acupuncture can have a direct effect on the psoas muscle by needling along the Stomach channel. The Stomach channel pathway follows both the psoas major and minor muscles interiorly and exteriorly. Using Stomach channel acupuncture points we can energetically reach the psoas in order to treat the pain.
The beauty of Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture is that it treats the whole person physically, mentally and emotionally. With this in mind people often find that they receive much more than they thought they would from their acupuncture treatments.
Acupuncture can treat many types of pain. My treatments combine acupuncture, bodywork and heat treatment. I'll also give you some homework for you to strengthen your muscles with regular stretching and strengthening exercises to help get your life back on track.
Get in touch if you need help with treating a painful condition that is affecting your normal daily routine. I look forward to hearing from you.
Image: A Manual of Acupuncture. Peter Deadman
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