Lower Back Pain Relief: Psoas Major Release
This module teaches the release of the Psoas Major, a deep hip flexor that connects the lumbar spine to the femur. When this muscle enters spasm, it can contribute to low back pain, nerve compression, and pelvic imbalance.
Modality 13 · Releases: Chronic lower back pain · Acute lower back pain · Disc-related back pain · Quadriceps pain · Front-of-thigh numbness · Fertility / erectile dysfunction · Hormone-related symptoms
Step 1
Understanding the Problem
Most chronic lower back pain is not coming from the back. The psoas major runs from the lumbar spine, through the abdomen, to the top of the thigh, and it is the muscle that holds the low back in compression when it fatigues into spasm from sitting, stress, poor posture or a protective reflex after injury. A psoas in spasm pulls the lumbar vertebrae forward and down, loads the discs, and presses on the femoral and genitofemoral nerves that run through it. Releasology releases the psoas directly, from the front, so the lumbar spine decompresses and the back stops guarding.
What this release relieves
- Chronic and acute lower back pain. The deep ache across the low back and the sudden lock-up when standing up straight both trace to psoas spasm pulling on the lumbar spine; both ease as it releases.
- Disc-related back pain. A psoas in spasm compresses the lumbar discs all day. Releasing it takes the constant load off, which is why disc symptoms often quiet without anything being done to the disc.
- Stiffness standing upright and weak hip flexion. Clients who cannot straighten up after sitting, or struggle to lift the leg to climb a step, are feeling a shortened psoas.
- Pain, numbness or weakness in the front of the thigh. The femoral nerve passes through the psoas. Quadriceps pain and altered sensation down the front of the thigh are that nerve under compression.
- Erectile dysfunction, fertility and hormone-related symptoms. The genitofemoral nerve and the vessels serving the pelvis pass alongside the psoas. Clients report changes in erectile function, menstrual regularity and pelvic circulation as the muscle releases.
The psoas major is one of the most important muscles in the body.
It is a deep, central muscle that connects:• lumbar spine
• pelvis
• femurIt lies within the abdominal cavity and directly influences:
• spinal alignment
• hip movement
• internal pressure• organ positioning
When functioning properly:
• the spine remains stable yet mobile
• posture is upright and relaxed
• movement through the hips is smooth
When the psoas enters spasm:
👉 it shortens and pulls the spine forward
👉 compresses the lumbar region
👉 disrupts movement through the entire system
This is not a superficial issue.
It is a deep central restriction that affects both structure and function.
Frequently asked questions
Why would a back muscle be released from the front of the body?
The psoas is not a back muscle. It lies in front of the spine, behind the abdominal organs, and can only be reached through the abdomen. Back massage and stretching never touch it, which is why so much low back pain returns.
Is this safe if I have a disc problem?
The release works on the muscle, not the disc, and reduces the compression the disc is under. If you have numbness in both legs, loss of bladder or bowel control, or pain after a fall, see a physician before any hands-on work.
How is the psoas different from the quadratus lumborum?
Both cause low back pain, but the QL (Modality 14) produces one-sided, side-of-waist pain and a hip that sits higher; the psoas produces central low back pain, disc loading and front-of-thigh symptoms. Often both are released.
Read more: Lower Back Pain: The Psoas, the Quadratus Lumborum and Why Your Back Will Not Let Go
Step 2
The Clinical Problem
A client arrives complaining of persistent low back pain, stiffness when standing upright, or discomfort deep within the abdomen or hip.
They may also report pain radiating into the front of the thigh or weakness when lifting the leg.
Despite treatment of the lumbar muscles and surrounding tissues, the symptoms often return.
The underlying cause lies in the psoas major, one of the deepest and most influential muscles in the human body.
The psoas major originates from the lumbar vertebrae and travels downward through the abdomen to attach to the femur. Because of this direct attachment to the spine, tension in this muscle can exert a constant pulling force on the lumbar vertebrae.
When the psoas major enters spasm, it can pull the lumbar spine forward and increase compression on the spinal nerves exiting the lower back. This is why chronic psoas contraction is frequently associated with persistent lumbar pain and nerve irritation.
The psoas region also contains important neural pathways.
Two nerves in particular may be affected:
• the femoral nerve, which supplies the anterior thigh
• the genitofemoral nerve, which contributes to communication between the central nervous system and the reproductive organs
When the psoas remains in spasm, pressure on these nerves may disrupt normal signaling patterns.
Compression of the femoral nerve may contribute to:
• pain in the front of the thigh
• weakness in hip flexion
• altered sensation in the leg
Compression of the genitofemoral nerve may influence the neural communication between the central nervous system and the gonads.
When this signaling pathway through the genitofemoral nerve is disrupted, which passes through the belly of the psoas major - which is the most common cause of reproductive dysfunction, including irregular menstrual cycles, low hormone levels, infertility or erectile dysfunction, sterility and low testosterone levels.
For this reason the psoas major is not only a mechanical stabilizer of the spine, but also a muscle whose dysfunction can influence lumbar pain, nerve signaling, and reproductive physiology.
By restoring normal relaxation to the psoas major, pressure on the lumbar vertebrae and nearby nerves can be relieved, allowing the spine, hips, and neural pathways of the pelvis to function more normally.
This is why infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, E.D, low back pain and quadriceps pain or numbness is always associated with a tight psoas major muscle.
Step 3
Why This Happens
The psoas major is highly responsive to:
• stress
• posture
• prolonged sitting
• protective reflexes
It is deeply connected to the body’s survival response.
When activated:
• it prepares the body for movement
• shortens to stabilize and protect
With repeated activation:
👉 it loses its ability to release
👉 enters a sustained state of contraction
Structural and Neurological Influence
Because of its location, the psoas sits adjacent to:
• lumbar nerve structures
• major vascular pathways
• abdominal organs
When in spasm:
• it can compress surrounding structures
• disrupt communication between body and nervous system
• alter function in the lower body
Releasology Perspective
This represents a disruption in deep central conduction.
Instead of allowing force to move through the system:
• the center becomes fixed
• movement is restricted
• the system remains partially activated