Psoas Muscle Release Near You — Spicewood & Lake Travis TX
The psoas is the deepest hip flexor in the body and one of the most commonly overlooked drivers of low back pain, hip impingement, and poor posture. Dr. Matt Centofonti at Kinetix Sport + Spine uses Full Body Active Release Techniques to release it at the source — not just stretch it temporarily.
Location
Inside CrossFit Lake Travis
5324 Reimers-Peacock Rd
Spicewood, TX 78669
Credentials
Full Body ART Certified
TPI Medical Level 2
TPI Fitness Level 2
Availability
Same-week appointments
No referral required
Book online 24/7
Results
Most patients feel noticeable
improvement in 3–5 visits
What the Psoas Does — and What Happens When It Breaks Down
The psoas major is one of the most important and least understood muscles in the body. It’s the only muscle connecting the lumbar spine directly to the femur — running from the transverse processes of T12–L5 through the pelvis to the lesser trochanter of the thigh. That anatomical position makes it a primary hip flexor, a spinal stabilizer, and a postural anchor all at once.
When the psoas is chronically shortened from prolonged sitting, overloaded from repetitive hip flexion in sport, or inhibited from prior injury, it creates a predictable cascade of dysfunction — pulling the lumbar spine into anterior tilt, compressing the lumbar discs, restricting hip extension, and altering the firing patterns of the glutes and core.
Most providers address psoas tightness with static stretching. Stretching can temporarily relieve the sensation of tightness but does nothing to address fascial adhesions, trigger points, or the movement pattern driving the restriction. That’s why psoas-related pain recurs after stretching alone — and why ART produces lasting results that stretching doesn’t.
- Chronic low back pain — especially aching that worsens with sitting and eases briefly when you first stand up
- Hip flexor tightness — persistent pulling sensation at the front of the hip that doesn’t resolve with stretching
- Anterior pelvic tilt — excessive forward lean in the lower back when standing or walking
- Hip impingement — pinching sensation deep in the hip at end-range flexion, especially in a squat or golf setup position
- Groin pain or tightness — deep aching in the inner groin with hip rotation or loaded hip flexion
- Sciatica-like symptoms — the psoas can compress the lumbar nerve roots, producing radiating pain that mimics true sciatica
- Glute weakness — the psoas and glutes are reciprocally inhibited; a tight psoas neurologically shuts off the glutes
- Poor posture under load — loss of neutral spine when squatting, deadlifting, or at address in the golf swing
Stretching the Psoas Is Not the Same as Releasing It
Most providers — and most YouTube videos — treat psoas tightness with hip flexor stretches. This provides temporary relief but misses the actual mechanism driving the restriction.
Why It Only Works Temporarily
- Lengthens the muscle but doesn’t break up adhesions
- Doesn’t address trigger points within the tissue
- Can’t reach the deep fascial restrictions limiting motion
- Doesn’t correct the movement pattern driving the tightness
- Relief lasts hours, not days — tightness returns
Why It Produces Lasting Results
- Precision tension targets specific adhesions and restrictions
- Patient movement during treatment restores full tissue excursion
- Addresses the psoas at every level — T12 through lesser trochanter
- Immediate neurological effect — glute activation restored
- Combined with corrective exercise to lock in the change
What is Full Body ART? Active Release Techniques is a patented, evidence-based soft tissue system that combines precise provider tension with active patient movement to break down scar tissue, adhesions, and fascial restrictions. Dr. Matt holds Full Body ART certification — the most comprehensive level of ART training — and is the only certified provider in the Lake Travis area. This means the psoas can be treated at every level of its attachment, not just the accessible portion near the hip.
Who Benefits From Psoas Release at Kinetix
Psoas dysfunction shows up differently depending on your activity level and sport. Here’s how it manifests in the patients we treat most often.
Desk Workers & Remote Professionals
Prolonged sitting places the psoas in a chronically shortened position for 6–10 hours daily. The result is persistent hip flexor tightness, anterior pelvic tilt, and low back pain that worsens throughout the workday — a pattern extremely common in Austin’s tech and professional community.
Golfers
A tight psoas restricts hip extension in the trail leg and internal rotation in the lead hip — two movements essential for an efficient swing. The resulting compensations include early extension, lateral sway, and the lumbar overload that produces golf-related low back pain. TPI screening identifies psoas restriction as a primary swing limiter in a significant portion of recreational golfers.
CrossFit & Strength Athletes
The squat, deadlift, and Olympic lifting all demand hip extension range that a tight psoas limits. Restricted psoas also neurologically inhibits glute firing, which shifts load to the lumbar spine under heavy loading — the setup for back injuries during compound movements.
Runners & Cyclists
Running and cycling both involve repetitive hip flexion, progressively shortening the psoas over time. Restricted hip extension in the push-off phase reduces stride efficiency and shifts propulsive demand to the lumbar spine. Psoas release is one of the highest-leverage treatments for runners with persistent low back and hip flexor issues.
Baseball & Throwing Athletes
The stride leg’s hip flexion and the drive leg’s hip extension in the throwing motion require full, symmetric psoas mobility. Restriction in either hip creates asymmetric mechanics that overload the lumbar spine and reduce arm path efficiency over the course of a season.
Chronic Hip & Low Back Pain Patients
If you’ve had persistent hip flexor tightness, anterior hip pain, or low back pain that hasn’t responded to standard treatment, psoas involvement is frequently the missing diagnosis. A thorough assessment at Kinetix identifies whether the psoas is a primary driver and builds a targeted treatment plan from the first visit.
How Psoas Release Works at Kinetix Sport + Spine
A systematic process that goes beyond soft tissue release to correct the movement pattern that created the restriction in the first place.
Full Movement Assessment
SFMA screen to confirm the psoas is the primary restriction and identify secondary areas — hip joint mobility, lumbar stability, and glute activation — that need to be addressed alongside it.
Full Body ART — Psoas Release
Precise soft tissue tension applied at the psoas from its lumbar attachments through the iliacus to the femoral insertion — while the patient performs active hip extension and flexion. This breaks up adhesions throughout the full length of the muscle that stretching cannot reach.
Lumbar & Hip Joint Work
Chiropractic mobilization of the lumbar segments and hip joint to restore the motion that was being restricted by the tight psoas — completing the release at both the tissue and joint level.
Glute Activation & Hip Stability
Immediate corrective exercise to reactivate the glutes that were neurologically inhibited by the tight psoas — locking in the release and preventing the restriction from re-establishing.
Go Deeper — From the Kinetix Blog
Psoas Release Therapy in Spicewood & Lake Travis — The Complete Guide
Psoas Release Near Lakeway, Bee Cave & West Austin
Kinetix Sport + Spine is located inside CrossFit Lake Travis in Spicewood, TX — the most accessible location in the Lake Travis corridor for patients coming from Lakeway, Bee Cave, Rough Hollow, and west Austin.
If you’ve been searching for psoas muscle release near you and haven’t found a provider using ART-level soft tissue work — not just massage or stretching — Kinetix is worth the drive. Most patients from the Lakeway and Bee Cave area are on the table within 20 minutes of leaving home.
5324 Reimers-Peacock Rd, Spicewood TX 78669
Inside CrossFit Lake Travis · Off Highway 71
- Lakeway15–20 min via Hwy 620
- Bee Cave20–25 min via Hwy 71
- Rough Hollow10–12 min via Hwy 71
- West Austin25–30 min via Hwy 71
- Steiner Ranch20 min via Quinlan Park Rd
- Dripping Springs25 min via Hwy 290
- Marble Falls30 min via Hwy 71
- SpicewoodLocal — 5 min
Same-week appointments available.
No referral required. Book online 24/7.
Psoas Release — Common Questions
What is psoas muscle release and how is it done?
Psoas muscle release involves specific manual therapy techniques to break down fascial adhesions, trigger points, and restrictions within the psoas major and iliacus muscles. At Kinetix, Dr. Matt uses Full Body Active Release Techniques — applying precise tension to the psoas at multiple attachment points while the patient performs active hip movements. This combination restores full tissue excursion along the entire length of the muscle and has a neurological effect on glute activation that stretching alone cannot produce.
Where can I find psoas muscle release near me in the Lake Travis area?
Kinetix Sport + Spine in Spicewood, TX is the only Full Body ART-certified provider in the Lake Travis area offering psoas release using Active Release Techniques. Located inside CrossFit Lake Travis on Reimers-Peacock Road, the clinic is 15–20 minutes from Lakeway, 20–25 minutes from Bee Cave, and 25–30 minutes from West Austin. Same-week appointments are typically available — book online at kinetixatx.janeapp.com or call 512-730-0284.
Why does psoas tightness cause low back pain?
The psoas attaches directly to the lumbar vertebrae from T12 through L5. When it’s chronically shortened, it pulls the lumbar spine into anterior tilt — compressing the lumbar discs and facet joints on one or both sides. It also neurologically inhibits the gluteus maximus, which is the primary stabilizer of the lumbar spine under load. The result is a lumbar spine that’s simultaneously compressed and destabilized — the exact conditions that produce chronic low back pain and disc irritation.
How many sessions does psoas release take?
Most patients with psoas-driven hip flexor tightness and low back pain notice significant improvement within 3–5 visits when ART is combined with corrective exercise for glute activation and hip stability. Chronic cases — particularly those involving years of desk work or repetitive sport loading — may require 6–8 visits to achieve full resolution and build the movement patterns that prevent recurrence.
Is psoas release the same as a hip flexor stretch?
No — and this is a critical distinction. Hip flexor stretching temporarily lengthens the psoas but does not address fascial adhesions, trigger points, or the neurological inhibition of the glutes that a tight psoas causes. ART-based psoas release applies specific tension to break down tissue restrictions throughout the full length of the muscle — from the lumbar attachments to the femoral insertion — while the patient actively moves through range of motion. The result is lasting tissue change, not temporary length gain.
Can a tight psoas cause hip impingement?
Yes. A tight psoas pulls the femoral head anteriorly in the hip socket, reducing the available space for hip flexion before the femoral neck contacts the acetabular rim. This creates or worsens femoroacetabular impingement symptoms — the pinching sensation at the front of the hip at end-range flexion. Releasing the psoas and restoring its full length repositions the femoral head and frequently resolves or significantly reduces impingement symptoms without surgery.
Stop Stretching It. Start Releasing It.
Book an assessment at Kinetix in Spicewood — serving Lakeway, Bee Cave, and greater Austin. Same-week availability. No referral required.
Kinetix Sport + Spine · Inside CrossFit Lake Travis · 5324 Reimers-Peacock Rd, Spicewood TX 78669