Psoas Release Tool
Pso-RITE
69.99
Prior to going to physical therapy I had absolutely zero clue what the psoas muscle even was. And after a session with a fill in physical therapist who attempted to release my psoas muscle during a session, only to leave me in serious physical pain to the point I couldn’t eat or stand for almost a week, I’m very suspicious of anything related to the psoas muscle. Thanks to targeted advertising on Instagram I did run across something that was pretty cool, the Pso-RITE, which is a myofascial release tool designed to let you release the psoas in the comfort of your own home.
Psoas Stretch
Before I get too deep into the review I do want to state you should also stretch your psoas. Both my previous physical therapist and Sebastian over at Yoga For BJJ (I’m no longer a member but was for 2 years) suggest the King Arthur Stretch. In the world of corrective exercise both stretching and myofascial release are used prior to compound and isolated strength training so you’re working with even muscles. The stretching and releasing helps to temporarily alleviate muscle imbalances, with the strength training (when done with correct form targeting the proper muscles) bringing the muscles back into balance.
Psoas Release Tool Review
As with anything, I ended up buying the entire bundle (the Pso-RITE, the smaller Pso-RITE, and the Pso-Spine) all at the same time. Each are giant pieces of hard, rigid plastic. The first time I jumped on the Pso-RITE I’m sure I sounded like someone using a foam roller for the first time. It honestly hurt. I’m not sure what I was expecting out of it (they advertise the tools as a replacement for a massage therapist’s hands) as I was attempting to replace my visits to the PT / massage therapist while under Covid lockdown.
I was training strength regularly, alternating between kettlebell swings, hex bar deadlifts, racked front squats, and a mixture of bulgarian bag exercises when I started playing around with the Pso-RITE. I actually got my body to the point where I felt looser than I had in years before a Zoom Muay Thai class with the Pso-RITE. By the end of class I felt tight again, but pre-class I felt amazing.
I’ve used the larger Pso-RITE on my hamstrings, quads, glutes, psoas, and around the shoulder blade. I’ve used the smaller one on the front side where the shoulder connects to the chest, on my abused triceps from bulgarian bag work, and on the back of the neck. And I’ve used the Pso-SPINE up and down along the spine.
The true key to using any of these products is remembering to breathe. If you forget to breathe the body tenses up even further. But don’t take my word for it –
Is it worth it for a psoas release?
Like I said at the top of the page, I’m very sensitive about how I hit the psoas and whose allowed to mess with it. I have 1 PT whose allowed to try and outside of that I don’t let anyone near my psoas and that took awhile to build up trust. With this tool, I can do it at home on my own by myself. If I mess myself up it’s because I did something stupid and rushed into things without listening to my body. Having the control is worth the price tag in my book, but I also collect recovery tools. I literally have a wall of foam rollers and a bin of massage balls.
If you suffer from tight muscles and have the extra finances to purchase one then definitely do it. The Pso-RITE, Pso-Spine, Chirp Wheel, and a massage ball have become my go to’s for every day warm ups before getting into the Simple part of Simple and Sinister. If I need additional work done I’ll grab some of my other recovery tools, but the Pso-RITE is a daily tool for me now to relax my overly tight hips, quads, and upper back (I sit in a recliner while blogging and network marketing, which is totally not good for me. Also I know better so I should stop.)
