Muscle of the Week x 2

Since I have fallen behind a little with this segment and it was actually requested, time for catch up...

Real quick, I went to a wedding in Eunice, Louisiana this weekend and had a great cajun experience. A lot of travel:

flew to atlanta and spent thursday night there, drove to new orleans and spent friday night there, drove to eunice and went to the wedding and spent saturday night there, sunday at 6 am we took off driving reversing the trip, one hour time change and flew out of atlanta 6:40 pm, got to my actual house about 10:30 pm... luckily I start work today at 11...

Psoas major

Latin	m. psoas major
Gray's	subject #127 467
Origin	Transverse processes of T12-L5 and the lateral aspects of the discs between them
Insertion	in the lesser trochanter of the femur
Artery	lumbar branch of iliolumbar artery
Nerve	Lumbar plexus via anterior branches of L2-L4 nerves
Action	flexes and rotates laterally thigh
Antagonist	Gluteus maximus
MeSH	Psoas+Muscles

Multifidus

Latin	musculus multifidus
Gray's	subject #115 400
Origin	Sacrum, Erector spinae Aponeurosis, PSIS, and Iliac crest
Insertion	spinous processes of all the vertebrae except the atlas
Artery
Nerve	Posterior branches
Action	Stabilizes vertebrae in local movements of vertebral column -acting unilaterally, lateral flexion and rotation to the opposite side; acting bilaterally, extension and hyperextension of the spine;

These two muscles have recently been implicated in Unilateral Back Pain. The idea of the "core" is one that is probably not fully understood to the lay population or even many professionals. The core is the series of muscles around the trunk that helps to stabilize the rest of your body. In my short clinical experience it seems that proper core muscle training can relieve many symptoms of low back pain as well as improve performance of almost any activity. I would love to write a lot more... but I have to run to work... have a great day!