The Iliopsoas: a door towards health

I have had balance problems all my life, as well as problems with my back, hips, knees and other areas. I had already heard about the iliopsoas a few years ago. But it is only now that I have experienced the importance of this muscle and its role in the problems I had. It is an important muscle on a physical level for everyone. But its strong connection with emotional processes and the interaction between the iliopsoas and energy also makes it a possible key to healing or well-being for those who have discomfort and pain in the lower body for which there is no specific diagnosis.

The iliopsoas: its function in the body

The iliopsoas is the name for a muscle group:

– psoas major

– psoas minor

– iliacus

In this article, I always refer to that group when I talk about the iliopsoas.

These muscles connect the lower body to the upper body. They start at the upper leg bone, cross the pelvis and reach the diaphragm. They are therefore important in the front and side bending of the lumbar part of the back, the positioning of the lower part of the back in connection with the legs, in the functioning of the quadriceps and in the tilting of the pelvis.

During physical treatment, it is important to take into account the ilioinguinal nerve, the external iliac artery, the femoral artery and the genitofemoral nerve. The kidneys, bladder and adrenal glands are also very close and require caution during treatment. The iliopsoas affects the lumbar plexus area and converges with the diaphragm, which contains an important nerve centre.

(Therefore, I personally do not attempt to treat the iliopsoas from a physical point of view, without the help of a professional.)

So we can conclude that the iliopsoas is essential for posture and walking. It is part of the survival flight response system and supports various organs, including the intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, stomach and sexual organs.

Mainly these aspects were a key to the healing process I have experienced.

The iliopsoas: survival – emotions – TMS

There are several concepts about how the nervous system and communication between the brain, nerves, muscles and emotions work to help us escape when there is danger.

Obviously, this is not my area of expertise, so I will limit myself to mentioning a few aspects that I have read about and which have been confirmed by my personal experience allowing me to understand the interaction between the iliopsoas, emotions and TMS.

Paul McLean describes how the brain works through what he calls “the three brains”. The oldest of these is the reptilian brain. In the event of danger, this prepares the body for instinctive flight (fight-or-flight response). In this sense, a connection is made between the “reptilian brain” and the iliopsoas in the flight reflex because the latter is essential for bending the hip and thus raising the leg to flee.

In addition, the iliopsoas has anatomical and neurological connections to the diaphragm (through the fascia) and is located near the adrenal glands. These produce cortisol and adrenaline when there is danger or during stress. These hormones stimulate the iliopsoas to tense up. Neurologists agree that this proximity and the fascial and nervous interconnections also explain the link between muscle tension and emotional and psychological state.

And so we come to the essence:

when we are in an emotional state (connected with trauma or stress), the brain causes a physiological reaction to allow us to flee and thus creates tension in the iliopsoas. When this emotional state or stress is prolonged, this physiological reaction becomes chronic and can persist even after the emotional state or stress has been resolved. And so there is chronic tension in the iliopsoas.

Chronic tension in the iliopsoas in this case is not the result of a physical problem; the origin is found at the emotional level, in stress and in patterns learned by the brain.

In turn, tension in the iliopsoas can create problems/discomfort in posture, in the lower back, in organs, etc.

As was the case with me.

How can we relax the iliopsoas?

The iliopsoas comes into action when the sympathetic nervous system is activated.

“Activating” the parasympathetic nervous system therefore leads to the deactivation of the iliopsoas. In addition, the iliopsoas is connected to the diaphragm. Breathing is therefore an excellent way to bring about relaxation and, for those who wish, it can be combined with the constructive relaxation position. Also certain forms of yoga, pilates etc can also help to “stimulate” the parasympathetic nervous system.

Relaxation through working with emotions

The iliopsoas becomes tense when we are in a state of strong emotion or under stress. THe good news is that we have an influence on these factors and therefore realy relax the iliopsoas.

There are, of course, different ways to process strong emotions. Sometimes we also need professional help in the case of severe trauma. When it comes to repressed emotions or strong emotions, breathing is essential. There are different forms and techniques available.

The Abuelo, who accompanied me in the healing process, always taught everyone “abdominal breathing” as a basis. It is certainly effective in the case of tension in the iliopsoas because it stimulates more movement of the abdomen and diaphragm and at the same time helps to release tension, emotions, etc. This breathing is also an internal massage for the organs that are also supported by the iliopsoas. If muscle tension affects one of these organs, abdominal breathing can have a beneficial effect through gentle stimulation with the movement of breathing.

Breathing is also, or above all, an aid to calming the nervous system, thus activating the parasympathetic nervous system. This allows us to enter into a state of observation of ourselves:

– how we feel physically, where there is tension in the body, pain, pleasant sensations, etc.

– emotions: what do we feel? Which emotions? Where do we feel them in the body?

– thoughts: what are they like? a loop? chaos? calm?

Observing emotions, combined with conscious breathing, can help us become aware of the essence of the emotion, what has touched us and, above all, observation and breathing helps us let go and gain insight into how we can transform the situation.

A third way of working with emotions to relax the iliopsoas is “through the chakras”. Especially the first 3 chakras. Because they are located precisely in the area of the iliopsoas.

The main theme of the first chakra is survival, so it is directly connected to the iliopsoas. People who feel a lot of fear, anxiety, and insecurity will benefit greatly from working on this chakra.
The second chakra is closely connected to emotions and pleasure. Therefore, balancing that chakra will also benefit the iliopsoas.
The third chakra is located at the point where the iliopsoas and the diaphragm connect. Consequently, it will help on a more subtle level energy to flow freely and release any tension at that height in the iliopsoas.

For many people, working with breathing, observation and the chakras will make a big difference to problems related to the iliopsoas. Unless the tension is no longer caused solely by the emotional state but also by a cognitive pattern.

Relaxation through reprogramming

Dr Sarno and Dr Schubiner describe the phenomenon of TMS (Tension Myositis Syndrome), in which the brain creates physical reactions as if in a dangerous situation. In the case of TMS, however, the brain does not stop creating these reactions when there is no longer any danger. Or rather, the brain has learned that certain emotions, certain behaviours, certain triggers are dangerous and therefore puts the body in a state of alarm. The more our thoughts and reactions reinforce the idea that there is danger, the more the brain creates these physical symptoms. This leads to chronic pain and physical problems that doctors cannot explain.

In my case the tension on the iliopsoas is part of TMS. So there is no physical cause, it is my brain that is constantly on alert because of a “danger” that is not actually a real danger. The good news is that I can teach my brain that there is no danger. I can correct it and, in this sense, reprogram it. By doing this, after a while it has learned that a certain emotion or situation is not dangerous, it does not go into alarm mode and the iliopsoas can relax.

Thanks to this relaxation, my posture has improved, I have more flexibility in my pelvis, more balance, less tension in my lower back, no more discomfort in my liver area, and my intestines are working better…