Iliopsoas Strain as a Cause of Back Pain

Snowshoveling. Lifting a baby out of a crib. Raising or lowering a heavy box while twisting the torso. Filling sandbags and throwing them onto a pile. Car accidents, falls, and other impact trauma...

These “lift & torso twist” actions or trauma can result in terrible back pain. The cause? Iliopsoas muscle contraction that compresses lumbar vertebrae and associated nerves. Read more about causes of back pain in my blog posts.

My clients who sought multiple massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathic, and/or physiotherapy treatments before finding me reported that “you are the first practitioner who knew how to fix my psoas.”

Frankly, it’s impossible for me to treat everyone who needs help with a damaged iliopsoas! Therefore it’s time to pass on my effective approach to other manual therapists/bodyworkers.

What You Will Learn

In this three (3) hour hands-on workshop you will learn:

  • anatomy of this important muscle and the nerves that pass through it;

  • how unilateral dysfunction may cause scoliosis, anteriorly-rotated ilium, sciatica and/or bulging discs;

  • assessment for iliopsoas dysfunction; and,

  • an effective manual technique for releasing iliopsoas muscle strains and knots in one client session.

    Please note that I do not teach practitioners to use, or who intend to use, a device to release iliopsoas muscle tension. My approach relies on palpation to find the origin of tension in the tissue and an effective manual technique to release it.

Who Can Attend

This workshop is targeted to massage therapists, Bowen therapists, osteopaths, and physiotherapists who treat muscles manually. Physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, etc., and people suffering from back pain are welcome to attend to gain insight into how myoskeletal tension and resulting pelvis misalignment cause back and hip pain.

To acquire and effectively use this technique you will need:

  • palpation experience,

  • sensitive fingers that can locate muscle damage (knots, strains, scar tissue) in muscle, and

  • patience. (I have spent 20 minutes or more on a severely damaged iliopsoas.)

Instructor

Madeline McBride has a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. Post retirement she became a Certified Bowenwork Practitioner and Neuromuscular Therapist. Her cross-discipline skill set of mechanics + manual training resulted in this North American expert in restoring pelvis, jaw and spinal alignment after falls, accidents and other injuries. Learn more about her training and experience.

2025 Workshops

Are you interested in organizing a half-day Iliopsoas Damage Workshop in your location? Madeline will travel to the Ottawa/ Kingston/ Montreal/ GTHA areas to teach manual therapists. A workshop coordinator who provides a venue, massage tables and at least 7 additional students attends free. Contact me at madeline@mcbridepainclinic.com .

Feedback from massage and/or Bowen Therapy students

Ottawa, ON - January 2024:

“This is the best explanation of the iliopsoas and its function I have had yet, with superb illustrations, making everything very clear. And excellent teaching of the technique.”

Bellevue, WA - Sept 2024:

“Madeline was a wealth of knowledge. I love that her (engineering) background is understanding the mechanics of how the structure works.”

“A different perspective to find ground zero for source of pain. Simple to implement immediately for effective results.”

“This workshop drastically helped me simplify working with pelvis alignment. Thank you!”

“Madeline is an excellent presenter with lots of real world examples. Really quick and easy way to assess and treat back problems.”

Calgary, AB - Sept 2024:

“Madeline provides a detailed course with a new approach for addressing iliopsoas damage in a non-invasive way.”

“This was a great mini workshop for more specific release of Iliopsoas and sensing differences in (muscle) damage. Can’t wait to work on my clients.”

“This course explains the clinical applications from assessment to treatment, including X-ray pictures & assessment illustrations for greater comprehension.”

__________________

COACHING

Students have requested the opportunity to discuss difficult cases with me. Therefore in 2025 my Iliopsoas Damage Workshop students will be eligible to sign up for on-line coaching sessions via Zoom. These group evening sessions will be offered for a reasonable rate. For dates, sign up for my newsletter by emailing madeline@mcbridepainclinic.com or watch this page.

BIOMECHANICS OF BACK, HIP & KNEE PAIN (and How to Fix it)

This workshop is in development. I will be expanding the Iliopsoas Damage Workshop to a full day.