Barbara WintroubThe Psoas is one of the largest, thickest muscles in the body. Its origin is Thoracic 12 and all the lumbar vertebrae including the discs, attaching at the top of the leg bone (femur). The responsibility of the Psoas is to flex your hip and thigh, which can cause poor lower back posture. When you are sitting or playing pickleball for many hours your Psoas is shortened and if you don’t stretch the muscle it continues to stay short, pulling on your back. Sitting on soft furniture is the worst because you tend to slump, which tightens the Psoas even more. Sitting on your buns all day creates spongy buns instead of buns of steel and the lack of bun exercises can lead to more back pain.
Postural Corrections: stand and sit tall and move, move, move.
Stretching exercises: Lunge stretch with a side over releases the Psoas and IT band. One leg bridge with opposite knee to the chest strengthens bun muscles while releasing opposite Psoas. Wishing you pain-free pickleball.
