01/22/2026
The Psoas (hidden contributor to low back pain)
Ever feel like your low back is âtight for no reasonâ â especially after sitting, driving, or a hard training week? đ
One often-overlooked contributor is the psoas (pronounced SO-az).
What is the psoas?
The psoas is a deep hip flexor muscle that connects the lumbar spine to the front of the hip/femur. Because it crosses the low back and hip, it can influence both areasâespecially with prolonged sitting, repetitive lifting, sprinting, or high-volume training.
How it may show up:
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low back tightness or a âpinchyâ feeling near the spine
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pain/stiffness when standing up after sitting đŞ
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hip flexor tightness, groin/front-of-hip discomfort
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difficulty extending the hip (long stride, running, glute activation)
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discomfort when lying flat or when bringing a knee to the chest
The key point
Low back pain isnât always âa back problem.â Sometimes itâs a hip + spine relationship issueâmobility, muscle tone, and movement patterns working together.
If your low back keeps flaring up, youâre compensating during workouts, or sitting makes it worse, itâs worth an evaluation.
đ˛ Schedule now (late-night and last-minute friendly): https://spineandsportdbq.janeapp.com/