American   Academy   f   Manual   Medicine

Home  Search  Pain referral  Trigger points  Cranial nerve  Spinal nerve  Historical  About us  Contact us  Site map 

 

Iliopsoas Maneuver (Shortened Iliopsoas and Possible Visceral Disease)
Pointer Plus

Pointer Plus

The Pointer Plus is an easy to use trigger point (TP) locator which incorporates a push button stimulation feature to immediately treat Trigger point pain.

 Wireless Tens Device

 

Individual Position: The individual is lying supine with approximately 1/3 of their thighs and legs dangling off the end of the table.

Practitioner Position:The practitioner is standing beside the contralateral hip of the side to be tested.

Description of Muscle Test:Either the practitioner or the individual induces thigh flexion to at least 60 degrees, the practitioner then attempts to slide their flat hand underneath the opposing thigh or ipsilateral side to be tested. If their hand passes freely through the gap of the thigh and table, this infers a positive finding for a shortened iliopsoas to the non-flexed side. Repeat to both sides. (Tight pants yield a false positive and this maneuver frequently cannot be performed due to the exacerbation of pain or a history of a low back pathology). Shortened rectus femoris or tensor fasciae latae (TFL) may additionally cause a false positive for iliopsoas involvement. Therefore, evaluation and treatment, if indicated, should be performed to the Rectus femoris and TFL, prior to initiating the Psoas maneuver. Frequently observed with a shortened iliopsoas is an elevated innominate (hemipelvis). When this elevation is seen in combination with a sacral deviation (sacral sheer), sacral nerve compression is possible, therefore, a figure four maneuver should also be performed. 

 

Back to Top

Return to Search 

 



Home  Search  Pain referral  Trigger points  Cranial nerve  Spinal nerve  Historical  About us  Contact us  Site map 

Continuing Education © Copyright 2001, 2004, 2006. All rights reserved.