Dr. Webster's Blog email:drwebster@websterartdr.com

Here is a simple way to get your daily intake of fruits and veggies. It’s simple and delicious. All you need is a blender and some basic ingredients. Raw almonds or any other raw nut, Raw flax seed, Spinach, Apple, Banana, Blue berries, Pineapple, Water to cover all ingredients. Any other fruit may be substituted to taste. This is a recipe that always changes depending on what you have in your fridge. The trick to making this work is having a high-powered blender. I do not have an affiliation with Vita-mix but I do endorse their blenders. It’s amazing how it pulverizes everything you add down to one smooth consistency. Try it out and if you have any questions email me at info@websterartdr.com

Learning about the Psoas(pronounced "so-az") muscle is vital in understanding hip movement and optimal function. A lack in range of motion can cause a negative change in gate, squatting, hip power and posture. An issue with the Psoas can be directly linked to most low back pain. I have imbedded a picture of what the Psoas looks like and where it is attached. Please spend a few moments visualizing this muscle because it is vitally important in how our body works.
 
 
 

 
 
 
Action of the Psoas Muscle
 
    - This composite muscle is the strongest flexor of the thigh at the hip joint.
 
    - The Psoas muscles are also important antigravity postural muscles, which help to maintain erect posture at the hip joints.
 
    - Acting inferiorly, the Psoas muscles flex the trunk, as in raising from a lying to seated position.
 
Most of us sit at work all day behind a desk, not thinking about how this seated posture is affecting our muscles. We tend to forget that our body will adapt to what stressors we put on it. Unfortunately, the movement requirements for our day jobs are not the same that our active lives demand.

Staying in a seated position for extended periods of time shortens the Psoas and many other muscles. When we have a short, tight Psoas it can be perceived as low back pain or hip flexor tightness. There often is a feeling of difficulty or stiffness when standing up. In my experience over 95% of low back pain patients have an involved Psoas. Now here is the crux. When we have a tight muscle that we work in a dynamic way, such as running or lifting, it develops micro tears. These little tears then develop small amounts of scar tissue. As we continue to work and be active these small amounts of scar tissue spread. It’s a cycle of small tears that then lay down scar tissue. As your body develops more of this scar tissue, it starts to show the problem. This could be a few months or even a few years down the road. However, it will become apparent at some point. This is where seeing a doctor who specializes in soft tissue work is key. I use Active Release Technique (ART) to help remove this tissue abnormality. ART will help remove scar tissue and improve range of motion and function. After a few treatments, when the muscle has been restored to a more normalized state, specific stretches are given to help continue the healing process. For more information about the Psoas please call Dr. Webster at 214-575-9561 or go online to www.websterartdr.com and set up a time to have an evaluation done.

ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.