Hello NEXT LEVEL Clients!
We all experience aches and pains. The question is, how can we get rid of them, as well as prevent future problems? Well there is one good way I'm going to tell you about today: stretching.
One common ache people often feel is that of the muscle which connects your upper leg to your lower back. This muscle is called the iliopsoas. It is responsible for leaning over at the waist and also raising your thigh so as to step over a step or curb. The iliopsoas is responsible for acting as a strong flexor for both back and hip and as a result can lead to a variety of aches and pains around the areas this muscle has it's greats function. These muscles are also the ones that tend to be sore, stiff, or a source of discomfort for many people. Why?
Well, folks, I've got two main culprits for you as the source of this problem:
1) sedentary day jobs
2) not enough stretching!
The iliopsoas muscle is designed to shorten and extend based on your position or activity. When you sit, it contracts, and when you stand/move, it lengthens. The issue is, if you sit consistently for long periods of time, your psoas muscle adjusts to that shortened position and will not extend properly when you do stand up to move. As a result, you will feel discomfort and stiffness in your back and hips. making you more susceptible to injury, particularly during exercise, due to your muscle's inability to adapt to the movement effectively.
I don't expect you to quit your day jobs just to help your psoas muscle. But I DO expect you to stretch if you want to make it better! I have posted two different hip flexor and lower back stretches that will effectively stretch this area. We practice both of these at NEXT LEVEL, but please feel free to ask me more questions about these stretches, and practice them on your own at home! Also, don't forget to move around when you are working. Instead of sitting in front of your computer all day, make a conscious effort to get up at least once every hour and stretch or move around. It will make a huge difference!
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Regards,
Dr. Pigott
