Chiropractic

Thigh & Low Back Pain Caused By Trigger Points

Share

Introduction

The posterior section of the lower half of the body consists of the hipslow back, pelvis, legs, and feet, which provide stability to the body while supporting the upper body’s weight. The various muscles surround the lower extremities and make different motions for mobility and functionality by contracting and retracting when the legs and hips are in motion. The various muscles that provide stability to the hips and the legs are the iliopsoas muscles. When normal age or incidents affect the lower body extremities, it can correlate to the development of trigger point pain. Today’s article examines the iliopsoas muscles, how referred trigger pain affects the thighs and low back, and treating trigger point pain on the thighs and low back. We refer patients to certified providers who incorporate multiple techniques in the low back and thigh pain therapies related to trigger points to aid individuals dealing with pain symptoms along the iliopsoas muscle in the lower back, thigh, and near the pelvis. We encourage and appreciate patients by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their diagnosis, especially when it is appropriate. We understand that education is an excellent solution to asking our providers complex questions at the patient’s request. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

What Is The Iliopsoas Muscle?

Have you been dealing with muscle cramps in your thighs? What about feeling muscle stiffness in your lower back when you are stretching? Or do you feel your thigh muscles become heavy after a workout? Many of these issues correlate with the iliopsoas muscle becoming overused and developing trigger points, thus affecting the thighs and lower back. In the lower body extremities, the muscles that help provide stability to the hips are the iliopsoas muscles. The iliopsoas muscles consist of three muscles: iliacus, psoas major, and psoas minor, which can work individually or as a unit. When working individually, the iliacus muscle provides stability to the pelvis, the psoas major muscle helps stabilize the lumbar spine when a person is sitting, and the psoas minor helps with flexion of the trunk and stretch the iliac fascia. As a unit, however, these muscles work together to become the primary flexors of the thighs and allow hip flexion. 

 

 

Studies reveal that the iliopsoas is a deep muscle group that anatomically connects the spine to the body’s lower limbs. The iliopsoas muscles have an important function in the body’s lower limbs as primary hip flexors for daily activities, especially for those in sports. However, many impairments and pathologies affect the iliopsoas, which causes significant limitations and challenges since the symptoms mask the pain, causing individuals to think they are dealing with low back and hip pain. 

 

Referred Trigger Pain On The Thighs & Low Back

 

Since the iliopsoas muscles provide hip and thigh flexion to the lower body, many impairments and pathologies can affect this muscle group, causing issues in the hips, thighs, and even the lower back. These impairments can cause the iliopsoas muscles to be overused and overstretched, thus potentially developing trigger points along the iliopsoas muscles, causing referred pain on the thighs and low back. Studies reveal that when the iliopsoas muscle becomes overused or traumatic issues affect it, it can lead to problems in hip flexion and impairment in the lower extremities. In “Myofascial Pain and Disorders: The Trigger Point Manual,” written by Dr. Janet G. Travell, M.D., when trigger points begin to affect the iliopsoas muscles, it is known as the “Hidden Prankster” as normal factors like poor posture can overload the back causing trigger points to form not only on the iliopsoas muscles but the hamstrings, gluteal, thoracolumbar paraspinal, and posterior cervical muscles. Trigger points can mimic other chronic conditions that cause referred pain in different body areas. Trigger point pain in the iliopsoas muscle can lead to back pain, groin pain, snapping hips, and standing up difficult for the individual if it is not treated immediately.

 


Trigger Point Therapy: Iliopsoas Muscle- Video

Since the iliopsoas muscles provide hip and thigh flexion to the lower body, many impairments and pathologies can affect this muscle group, causing issues in the hips, thighs, and even the lower back. These impairments can cause the iliopsoas muscles to be overused and overstretched, thus potentially developing trigger points along the iliopsoas muscles, causing referred pain in the thighs and low back. Studies reveal that when the iliopsoas muscle becomes overused or traumatic issues affect it, it can lead to problems in hip flexion and impairment in the lower extremities. In “Myofascial Pain and Disorders: The Trigger Point Manual,” written by Dr. Janet G. Travell, M.D., when trigger points begin to affect the iliopsoas muscles, it is known as the “Hidden Prankster” as normal factors like poor posture can overload the back causing trigger points to form not only on the iliopsoas muscles but the hamstrings, gluteal, thoracolumbar paraspinal, and posterior cervical muscles. Trigger points can mimic other chronic conditions that cause referred pain in different body areas. Trigger point pain in the iliopsoas muscle can lead to back pain, groin pain, snapping hips, and standing up difficult for the individual if it is not treated immediately.


Treating Trigger Point Pain On The Thighs & Low Back

 

When trigger point pain begins to cause issues in the thighs and low back, the iliopsoas muscles will suffer from muscle spasms, stiffness, and difficulty standing. This is due to nerve entrapment from aggravated iliopsoas muscles caused by trigger points. However, various treatments can manage trigger point pain in the thighs, and low back through multiple techniques that pain specialists utilize can help relieve the pain symptoms from the iliopsoas muscle and manage trigger point pain. Studies reveal that combination treatments like soft tissue manipulation and trigger point therapy can help release the tiny nodules from the affected muscle and reduce the symptoms from re-occurring in the body. Other treatments, like correcting one’s posture, strength exercising, and even stretching, can help lengthen the iliopsoas muscles, stretch and strengthen the surrounding muscles, and prevent pain-like symptoms from affecting the thigh and low back muscles again. These various treatments can even improve hip mobility in the lower body extremities. 

 

Conclusion

In the lower body extremities, an iliopsoas is a group of deep muscles that provide stability to the lumbar spine and allow hip and thigh flexion. These groups of deep muscles can work individually or together to enable the individual to sit, stand and move around through physical activities; however, when the iliopsoas muscles become overused or suffer from a traumatic event, they can develop trigger points that can cause mobility issues on the thighs, hips, and lower back. Even though trigger points are difficult to diagnose, they are treatable through various treatments. Various treatments, like soft tissue massages, trigger point therapy, strength exercising, or stretching the iliopsoas muscles, can release trigger points from the affected body part and help bring back mobility function to the hips, thighs, and low back.

 

References

Bordoni, Bruno, and Matthew Varacallo. “Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Iliopsoas Muscle.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 2 Apr. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531508/.

Dydyk, Alexander M, and Amit Sapra. “Psoas Syndrome.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 12 June 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551701/.

Kameda, Masahiro, and Hideyuki Tanimae. “Effectiveness of Active Soft Tissue Release and Trigger Point Block for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back and Leg Pain of Predominantly Gluteus Medius Origin: A Report of 115 Cases.” Journal of Physical Therapy Science, The Society of Physical Therapy Science, Feb. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6382483/.

Lifshitz, Liran, et al. “Iliopsoas the Hidden Muscle: Anatomy, Diagnosis, and Treatment.” Current Sports Medicine Reports, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2020, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32516195/.

Travell, J. G., et al. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual: Vol. 2:the Lower Extremities. Williams & Wilkins, 1999.

Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Thigh & Low Back Pain Caused By Trigger Points" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Dr. Alex Jimenez

Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.

Published by

Recent Posts

Enhancing Comfort and Reducing Pain: Mattresses for Arthritis

Getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult for individuals suffering from arthritis. Can finding… Read More

A Comprehensive Guide: Benefits of Exercising to Reduce Scoliosis

Can individuals dealing with scoliosis incorporate various exercises and stretches to improve their posture and… Read More

Improving Sleep Quality: A Guide to Dealing with Primary Insomnia

Could learning to apply healthy sleep hygiene habits help improve sleep and overall health for… Read More

The Best Natural Probiotic Foods for a Healthy Gut and Strong Immunity

Can incorporating natural probiotic foods help improve many people's gut health and restore functionality to… Read More

Whiplash Rehabilitation: Taking Steps towards Recovery

Experiencing a whiplash injury can be disorienting and painful. Can recognizing the signs of more… Read More

Effective Natural Remedies for Fibromyalgia

Individuals dealing with fibromyalgia can find natural remedies to reduce the pain-like symptoms and provide… Read More

Whipped Cream Substitutes: Dairy-Free Options and Alternatives

For individuals who are looking for a whipped cream substitute for a dairy-free alternative, what… Read More

Injury Recovery: How to Maintain Fitness and Endurance

Can modified workouts and/or having a personal trainer design an alternate fitness routine while in… Read More

The Benefits of Ice Temperature Treatment for Reducing Pain

Is applying ice the best option for individuals who experience an acute back strain injury?… Read More

Unveiling the Vital Nutrients for Optimal Body Functioning

Individuals don't have to memorize or overthink every vitamin, mineral, or macronutrient. Can having a… Read More

Understanding Obesity Pressure and Its Impact on Herniated Discs

While some disc herniations don't cause symptoms, individuals who are overweight with a herniated disc… Read More

The Impact of Poor Posture on Sleep and How to Improve It

Can individuals have a full night of sleep by making small changes to their sleep… Read More