Releasing the Psoas and Pelvis with Active Release Therapy

Active Release Therapy at Fix Body Group in Hillcrest, San Diego

by Kathleen Lisson

I had the good fortune to be worked on by Sam Wagg from Fix Body Group in Hillcrest after my tough Half Marathon run at the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon / Half Marathon in May. Sam invited me back to his office for some treatment, including releasing my Psoas muscle. He used Active Release Therapy, which, according to the ART website, is a "movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves." As a massage therapy student, I was interested in how this type of massage could benefit me as an injured long distance runner.

Massaging my psoas was just one of the ART techniques that Sam performed. I found running easier after he addressed my psoas, pelvis rotation, adductors and hamstrings. I would recommend Fix Body group to a fellow athlete looking to improve his or her performance. I am now working with Brett Buckmaster at Fix Body group to improve my running form and biomechanics. I found myself using my quadriceps and external rotators, including my piriformis muscle, to run instead of my glutes and hamstrings, which was wearing down my body and causing injuries and soreness.

A video of Dr. Leach from Las Vegas performing the psoas protocol is here: https://youtu.be/QQVRrLYa3Xo