28/07/2026
I just finished up with a client referred to me by one of our physiotherapists for persistent hip pain. This was our second treatment together. I brought this client’s pain down from an 8/10 to a 5/10 by performing a favourite of mine - psoas release. During this particular treatment, we started talking more, and they casually mentioned struggling with IBS.
That changed the conversation.
Many people don’t realize that the digestive system and the musculoskeletal system are more connected than they seem. The psoas muscle sits deep in the abdomen, right beside the intestines. When the gut is irritated - from IBS, chronic bloating, or inflammation - the body can respond by creating protective muscle tension around the area.
Sometimes what feels like a stubborn “tight hip flexor” isn’t simply a muscle that needs stretching. It can be the body’s way of protecting an irritated system.
This doesn’t mean IBS causes all psoas pain, or that every case of hip pain originates in the gut. But it’s a great reminder that effective treatment starts with looking at the whole person…not just the area that hurts.
As massage therapists, we don’t treat IBS. But understanding how different body systems influence one another allows us to provide more informed care and collaborate with other healthcare professionals when appropriate.
Your body is always communicating. Sometimes the source of pain isn’t where you expect it to be.
Had to share!
(Also yes old pic - I can’t have nails anymore 😭😂)
