Tag: Lower Back

Adductor Longus

Adductor Longus

Pictured above is the adductor longus.

The leg on the left has all the muscles that cross the inside front of your thigh in addition to the adductor longus. 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 quads and all the other muscles in the body with our Coach membership.

Click here for a list of all the muscles.

Click here to see the adductors as a group.

Individual muscles you might be interested in:

Muscles that attach to the thigh bone from either the spine or hip bone above (attached anywhere on the femur)

  1. Psoas
  2. Iliacus
  3. Rectus Femoris
  4. Tensor Fasciae Latae
  5. Sartorius
  6. Gracilis
  7. Adductor Magnus
  8. Adductor Longus
  9. Adductor Brevis
  10. Pectineus
  11. Gluteus Maximus
  12. Gluteus Medius
  13. Gluteus Minimus
  14. Piriformis
  15. Superior Gemellus
  16. Obturator Internus
  17. Inferior Gemellus
  18. Quadratus Femoris
  19. Biceps Femoris - Long Head
  20. Semitendonosis
  21. Semimembranosis

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

  1. Iliacus
  2. Rectus Femoris
  3. Tensor Fasciae Latae
  4. Sartorius
  5. Gracilis
  6. Adductor Magnus
  7. Adductor Longus
  8. Adductor Brevis
  9. Pectineus
  10. Gluteus Maximus
  11. Gluteus Medius
  12. Gluteus Minimus
  13. Piriformis
  14. Superior Gemellus
  15. Obturator Internus
  16. Inferior Gemellus
  17. Quadratus Femoris
  18. Biceps Femoris - Long Head
  19. Semitendonosis
  20. Semimembranosis

Muscles that attach to the thigh bone (femur) and the knee cap (patella)

  1. Rectus Femoris
  2. Vastus Medialis Oblique
  3. Vastus Lateralis Oblique
  4. Vastus Intermedius

Muscles that cross or attach to the thigh bone (femur) and attach below the knee joint and DO NOT attach to the knee cap (patella)

  1. Sartorius
  2. Gracilis
  3. Semitendonosis
  4. Semimembranosis
  5. Biceps Femoris - Long Head
  6. Biceps Femoris - Short Head
  7. Gastrocnemius
  8. Popliteus
  9. Plantaris

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!

The Quadriceps

quads -- 2016
The Quadriceps

Pictured above are the quadriceps. 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 that cross the front of your thigh in addition to the quads. 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.

Individual Quads you might be interested in:

  1. The Rectus Femoris
  2. The Vastus Medialis Oblique
  3. The Vastus Lateralis Oblique
  4. The Vastus Intermedius

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!

Glutes Roll

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6th Secondary -- Glutes Roll
Use this SMR exercise to address the muscles in the back of your hips. 

You probably won't notice knots in your buns when you are just walking around, but when you slowly roll through this tissue, you'll find them!

The gluteus maximus (and many of the other posterior hip muscles) is involved in any movement using the hips. When one or more of your glutes is dysfunctional, proper hip function is compromised.

You will notice a 'lightness' with body movements if you release any knots in your glutes.
For written instructions, click here to download a printable PDF of the Glutes Roll

For our downloadable video instruction, click here. (video from 2010--updated video is in the works!)

If you have lower back issues you should begin this technique by lying flat on the floor FIRST, then lift your hips to get the roller underneath you (instead of sitting on the roller and lying back).

Be sure to post your questions and comments below. We want to provide the best instruction to help you recover from your workouts.

Click here to return to all of the Fundamental SMR Techniques

**All information is provided for educational purposes only. You should consult your doctor before attempting any exercises you read on this page or any page on this website.** 

Psoas Press

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31st Extended -- Psoas Press

Use this SMR exercise AFTER the Quads Roll. 

This SMR exercise is to address the knots in your Iliopsoas group, primarily the psoas muscle.

If you have tightness or discomfort in your hip or lower back, then this exercise is likely to help.

Although not immediately obvious, this one SMR exercise can provide you with relief of thigh, hip, and lower/mid-back dysfunctions.

The Iliopsoas Group (and the psoas in particular) is the most influential collection of hip & spine flexors in the body and therefore they are the most influential muscles in the body.

You should do this SMR exercise at least once every 2 weeks. (more often is better) If you have psoas tension you should be doing the Supported Corpse Stretch every single day until that tension is gone. Practicing the Psoas Press first, then the Supported Corpse is an effective one-two punch for hip flexor tension and lower back pain.

For written instructions, click here to download a printable PDF of the Psoas Press

For our downloadable video instruction, click here

Click here to see the rest of the SMR Techniques.

Be sure to post your questions and comments below. We want to provide the best instruction to help you recover from your workouts.

**All information is provided for educational purposes only. You should consult your doctor before attempting any exercises you read on this page or any page on this website.** 

Single QL Press

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27th Extended -- QL Press -- Single Ball

Use this SMR exercise AFTER the Quads Roll, the Lats Roll, and in compliment with the Psoas Press (either immediately before or after). 

This SMR exercise is to address the deep knots in your lower back (primarily the quadratus lumborum muscle). 

If you have tightness or discomfort in your lower back, then this exercise is likely to help relieve your immediate discomfort, but the tight hip flexors on the opposite side of the spine are the likely source of your discomfort.

DON'T skip the work on your psoas!

You should do this SMR exercise as needed to relieve tight lower back knots.

For written instructions, click here

For downloadable video instructions (4:03), click here (Updated video coming soon!)

Click here to see all of the Extended SMR Exercises.
Be sure to post your questions and comments below. We want to provide the best instruction to help you recover from your workouts.

**All information is provided for educational purposes only. You should consult your doctor before attempting any exercises you read on this page or any page on this website.** 

Double QL Press

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28th Extended -- QL Press -- Double Ball
Use this SMR exercise AFTER the Quads Roll, the Lats Roll, and in compliment with the Psoas Press (either immediately before or after). 


This SMR exercise is to address the deep knots in your lower back (primarily the quadratus lumborum muscle), and is an alternative to the QL Press. 


If you have tightness or discomfort in your lower back, then this exercise is likely to help.
For written instructions, click here.

For video instructions (2:27), click here. (Updated video coming soon!)

Click here to see the rest of the Extended Movements.
Be sure to post your questions and comments below. We want to provide the best instruction to help you recover from your workouts.

**All information is provided for educational purposes only. You should consult your doctor before attempting any exercises you read on this page or any page on this website.** 

Hamstrings Press

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16th Extended -- Hamstrings Press
Use this SMR exercise AFTER the Quads Roll, and the Adductors Roll. 

This SMR exercise is to address the deeper knots in your hamstrings along the back of your thigh. 

If you have tightness or discomfort of the knee, deep dull aches in the lower leg, or general hamstring issues, then this exercise is likely to help.
For written instructions, click here to download a printable PDF of the Hamstrings Press

For our downloadable video instruction, click here. (Updated video coming soon!)

Be sure to post your questions and comments below. We want to provide the best instruction to help you recover from your workouts.

Click here to return to all of the SMR Techniques

**All information is provided for educational purposes only. You should consult your doctor before attempting any exercises you read on this page or any page on this website.** 

Quads Roll

1st Primary -- Quads Roll
Practice the SMR exercise displayed below at least once each week to maintain proper hip, knee and back function.

It is likely you will need to stretch each day and possibly do other SMR movements for your "trouble areas."

This technique is part of the foundation that you build on, and you should revisit it often.
For written instructions, click here to download a printable PDF of the Quads Roll

For our downloadable video instruction, click here

Below is a video from our YouTube archives:
Be sure to post your questions and comments below. We want to provide the best instruction to help you recover from your workouts.

Click here to return to the rest of the SMR Techniques

**All information is provided for educational purposes only. You should consult your doctor before attempting any exercises you read on this page or any page on this website.**