Knee Issues – Page 2 – Alexander Method of SMR

Sartorius

Pictured above is the sartorius muscle. It is nick-named the "carpenter's muscle." It primarily works as a stabilizer for the leg on the hip joint and rotates the knee outward. It is also a weak hip flexor. You can't move your hip in any direction without using this muscle. Persons that spend large amounts of time kneeling are likely to need stretching and SMR attention here.

80% of all adults over 18 years of age have some form of back pain. If you aren't also checking the psoas for excessive tension you are missing one of the most significant links to proper back function.

The muscles are layered, showing how some of the muscles are covered by the others. All of the muscles are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.

Individual hip, lower back & thigh muscles you might be interested in: (any inactive links will be live soon)

Click here for a list of all the muscles.

Click here to see the hip flexor muscles as a group.

Muscle that crosses the hip/lower back joint and crosses the hip/thigh joint (attaches to the spine and the femur)

Psoas

Muscles that attach to the hip and the spine and/or ribs

Muscles that attach to the hip and the thigh bone (femur)

Good luck working out those tight knots.

If you have any questions, please post a comment. We try to respond within 24 hours.

We're here to help you get more out of your training!

Iliacus

Pictured above is the iliacus. It is one of the hip flexor muscles, and pulls your leg up toward your hip (like when you lift your leg). It is one of the most influential muscle in the body. You can't move your hip in any direction without using this muscle. This muscle is VERY LIKELY to need some SMR attention along with the psoas muscle. 80% of all adults over 18 years of age have some form of back pain. If you aren't checking the psoas for excessive tension you are missing one of the most significant links to proper back function.

The muscles are layered, showing how some of the muscles are covered by the others. All of the muscles are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.

Individual hip, lower back & thigh muscles you might be interested in: (any inactive links will be live soon)

Click here for a list of all the muscles.

Click here to see the hip flexor muscles as a group.

Muscle that crosses the hip/lower back joint and crosses the hip/thigh joint (attaches to the spine and the femur)

Psoas

Muscles that attach to the hip and the spine and/or ribs

Muscles that attach to the hip and the thigh bone (femur)

Good luck working out those tight knots.

If you have any questions, please post a comment. We try to respond within 24 hours.

We're here to help you get more out of your training!

Semimembranosis

Pictured above is the semimembranosis. It is one of the two internal hamstring muscles that attaches just below the inside of your knee.

The leg on the right has the semimembranosis labeled. The leg on the left displays all the muscles you can address on the back of your thigh in portions of the region of the semimembranosis. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others. You can access individual muscle detail for the hamstings and all the other muscles in the body with our Coach membership.

Click here for a list of all the muscles.

Click here to view the hamstrings all together.

Additional hamstring muscles you might be interested in:

Biceps Femoris
Semitendonosis
Semimembranosis

Good luck working out those tight knots.

If you have any questions, please post a comment. We try to respond within 24 hours.

We're here to help you get more out of your training!

Semitendonosis

Pictured above is the semitendonosis. It is one of the two internal hamstring muscles that attaches just below the inside of your knee.

The leg on the right has the semitendonosis labeled. The leg on the left displays all the muscles you can address on the back of your thigh in portions of the region of the semitendonosis. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others. You can access individual muscle detail for the hamstings and all the other muscles in the body with our Coach membership.

Click here for a list of all the muscles.

Click here to view the hamstrings all together.

Additional hamstring muscles you might be interested in:

Good luck working out those tight knots.

If you have any questions, please post a comment. We try to respond within 24 hours.

We're here to help you get more out of your training!

Hamstrings

Pictured above are the hamstrings.

The leg on the right has each muscle labeled. The muscles are also layered just like in your thigh, showing how some of the muscles are covered by the others.

The leg on the left has all the muscles you can address on the back of your thigh in addition to the hamstrings. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.

Click here for a list of all the muscles

Additional hamstring muscles you might be interested in:

Good luck working out those tight knots.

If you have any questions, please post a comment. We try to respond within 24 hours.

We're here to help you get more out of your training!

Biceps Femoris

Pictured above is the biceps femoris. You'll notice there are two attachments above the knee that feed into the same tendon below the knee (one on the hip bone, one on the lower portion of the thigh bone).

The leg on the right has the biceps femoris labeled. The leg on the left displays all the muscles you can address on the back of your thigh in portions of the region of the biceps femoris. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.

Click here for a list of all the muscles

Click here to view the hamstrings all together.

Additional hamstring muscles you might be interested in:

Good luck working out those tight knots.

If you have any questions, please post a comment. We try to respond within 24 hours.

We're here to help you get more out of your training!

Hip Flexors

Pictured above are the hip flexor muscles. All of them pull your leg up toward your spine, and one of them pulls your spine toward your leg (like when you sit up). They are BY FAR the most influential group of muscles in the body. You can't move your hip or lower back in any direction without using one or more of these muscles. 80% of all adults over 18 years of age have some form of back pain. If you aren't checking your hip flexors for excessive tension you are missing the most significant group of muscles that contribute to proper back function.

The muscles are layered, showing how some of the muscles are covered by the others. All of the muscles are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others. On the left side you can see the other muscles that are present in the same area as the hip flexors, and a couple muscles that act as mild hip flexors (Tensor Fasciae Latae & Sartorius).

Click here for a list of all the muscles.

Individual hip, lower back & thigh muscles you might be interested in: (any inactive links will be live soon)

Muscle that crosses the hip/lower back joint and crosses the hip/thigh joint (attaches to the spine and the femur)

Psoas

Muscles that attach to the hip and the spine and/or ribs

Muscles that attach to the hip and the thigh bone (femur)

Good luck working out those tight knots.

If you have any questions, please post a comment. We try to respond within 24 hours.

We're here to help you get more out of your training!

Psoas

Pictured above is the psoas. It is one of the hip flexor muscles, and pulls your leg up toward your spine (like when you lift your leg), or your spine toward your leg (like when you sit up). It is BY FAR the most influential muscle in the body. You can't move your hip or lower back in any direction without using this muscle. 80% of all adults over 18 years of age have some form of back pain. If you aren't checking the psoas for excessive tension you are missing one of the most significant links to proper back function.

The muscles are layered, showing how some of the muscles are covered by the others. All of the muscles are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.

Individual hip, lower back & thigh muscles you might be interested in: (any inactive links will be live soon)

Click here for a list of all the muscles.

Click here to see the hip flexor muscles as a group.

Muscle that crosses the hip/lower back joint and crosses the hip/thigh joint (attaches to the spine and the femur)

Psoas

Muscles that attach to the hip and the spine and/or ribs

Muscles that attach to the hip and the thigh bone (femur)

Good luck working out those tight knots.

If you have any questions, please post a comment. We try to respond within 24 hours.

We're here to help you get more out of your training!

Rectus Femoris

Pictured above is the most influential of the quadriceps, the rectus femoris. The leg on the right has the rectus femoris labeled. This is the only quadriceps that acts on the 2 largest joints in your body - the hip AND the knee. If this muscle goes dysfunctional with too many muscular knots, then all movements involving either of these two joints will be compromised. If you only have time for one SMR exercise, DO SMR FOR THE RECTUS FEMORIS! (It is that important.)

The leg on the left has all the muscles that cross your thigh in the region of the rectus femoris. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.

Click here for a list of all the muscles.

Click here to view the quads all together.

Additional Quads you might be interested in:

Good luck working out those tight knots.

If you have any questions, please post a comment. We try to respond within 24 hours.

We're here to help you get more out of your training!

Vastus Intermedius

Pictured above is the deepest of the quadriceps, the vastus intermedius. The leg on the right has the vastus intermedius labeled. The leg on the left has all the muscles that cross your thigh in the region of the vastus intermedius plus the IT Band. Many people with pain in the IT Band region of their body have tightness in the vastus intermedius muscle and could benefit from releasing that tension. All of the muscles in the left leg are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.

Click here for a list of all the muscles.

Click here to view the quads all together.

Additional Quads you might be interested in:

Good luck working out those tight knots.

If you have any questions, please post a comment. We try to respond within 24 hours.

We're here to help you get more out of your training!