The Intricacies and Power of the Psoas on its Impacts on Speed & Athleticism
The psoas muscle, situated deep within our body, is often overlooked, yet plays a pivotal role in our athletic prowess, emotional and spiritual well-being. This article delves into its significance and its relationship to performance based on a YouTube transcript.
1. The Location and Function:
The psoas lies in the central part of our body, connecting the spine and torso to the hips. This makes it incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to study in depth without causing potential harm. What we do know is that the psoas is crucial. It plays a role in the alignment of our body, facilitating movement, especially in athletes.
2. The Structure:
One of the astonishing things about this muscle is that it has three heads, offering a complex structure that does far more than what meets the eye. It’s not just about flexibility; the psoas, when viewed in 3D images, shows an elaborate system of connections.
3. Athlete Performance:
A revelation from research indicates that elite athletes, especially sprinters, have a notably larger psoas muscle compared to their less accomplished counterparts. The cross-sectional size of this muscle is the distinguishing factor. A particular Japanese study highlighted this phenomenon where Olympic sprinter Asafa Powell’s psoas was twice the size of a Japanese national champion sprinter, despite the latter having bigger hamstrings and glutes.
4. Implications of the Research:
Athletic ability, specifically speed in runners, seems to have a direct correlation with the size of the psoas muscle. It’s not just about sheer power; the balance of the body and the alignment facilitated by the psoas appear to be key contributors to performance.
5. The Psoas and Breathing:
The psoas isn’t just about running or athletic prowess; it’s also closely tied to our breathing mechanism. It assists in breathing and stabilization, underlining its significance in our everyday functions.
6. The Athletic Challenge:
Training the psoas remains a challenge. Despite being a vital muscle for performance, there isn’t a dedicated “psoas day” in training routines. This brings up the question: Are athletes missing out on optimizing their performance by not focusing on this muscle?
7. Exercises Targeting the Psoas:
There are exercises that target the psoas. For instance, athletes are trained to maintain their torso’s shape while moving, which is a direct implication of the strength and flexibility of the psoas. Moreover, drills that involve lifting the leg while maintaining body posture are indicators of the psoas’s strength.
Conclusion:
The psoas muscle, while elusive due to its location, is a powerhouse that determines athletic ability, body alignment, and even emotional well-being. While further research is warranted, its current known significance emphasizes a reconsideration of athletic training regimens to include dedicated psoas training.
Elite Coach Chris Korfist Lecturing about the Psoas.
