iliopsoas - Rogers Athletic

Psoas Major

Jayce Miller on August 21, 2026

The difference between winning and losing is often very narrow. Developing speed and quickness in athletics has always been important and the slightest differences in movement amongst competing athletes often determines the outcome of events.

All muscles play a role in development across sports. When looking at sprinting speed coaches, trainers and athletes all want to know which muscles seemingly have the greatest

influence on speed to help in an athletes’ improvement.

Muscle strength and thus size are considerations in sprinting speed. Researchers have and continue to study lower-body muscle volumes to discover and predict which parts of our anatomy contribute the most to speed of movement. The psoas major is a muscle that is not often discussed by athletic coaches and trainers or pointed to as an anatomically essential area to be targeted.

The psoas is located in the lumbar region of the lower back and connects the spine to the thigh. It is one of the most significant muscles that overlies the vertebral column. The function of the psoas muscle is linking the upper body to the lower body. Along with the iliopsoas muscle, the psoas becomes a major contributor of flexion of the hip joint. In conjunction with other hip flexors the psoas elevates the upper leg towards the body. These proximal hip flexors and extensors have emerged as possibly the most important muscles ‘especially’ the psoas major in determining sprinter speed. Sprinters tend to have a psoas muscle significantly larger than non-sprinters.

To target this area Rogers Athletic developed the Pendulum Hip Press Pro XT. The Hip Press should be a part of all athletic facilities as no other exercise equipment is designed to augment the psoas. This primary hip flexor is not only vital for running but much of all mobility. Get Strong, increase speed, become more athletic Get Pendulum.

Hip Press Pro XT

Improve Athletic Performance

Jayce Miller on June 6, 2025

When studying the biomechanics of sprinting you will find statements such as the following about the use of starting blocks and the development of speed – “Greater average force production during the push against the blocks, especially from the rear leg and particularly the hip appears to be important for performance.” There are many other similar quotes with corresponding research that show that hip power off of the starting blocks allows for more time to generate propulsive force in running performance.

It is just not the start in sprinting, strong hips and it’s joints generate the majority of the power in most athletic movements and are a crucial source for the connection of upper and lower body muscle groups. Throwing, kicking, jumping and running all benefit from well developed hip musculature.

The Hip Press is not a typical leg pressing movement. It has a unique strength curve and a custom seat design that allows for contraction of the muscular anatomy of the hip and gluteal region. This is aided by an adjustable stopper which controls the depth of movement.

The primary hip extensor muscles are the gluteus maximus and hamstrings. The primary flexors are the iliopsoas, sartorius and rectus femoris. These groups are targeted and trained on the Pendulum Hip Press.