Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
The new edition of this hugely successful book continues to present a unique understanding of the role of fascia in healthy movement and postural distortion which is of vital importance to bodyworkers and movement therapists worldwide. Fully updated throughout and now with accompanying website (www.myersmyofascialmeridians.com), Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists will be ideal for all those professionals who have an interest in human movement: massage therapists, structural integration practitioners, craniosacral therapists, yoga teachers, osteopaths, manual therapists, physiotherapists, athletic trainers, personal trainers, dance and movement teachers, chiropractors and acupuncturists.
- Provides a revolutionary approach to the study of human anatomy which has been shown to improve the outcomes of physical therapies traditionally used to manage pain and other musculoskeletal disorders
- Describes a theory which is applicable to all common types of movement, posture analysis and physical treatment modalities
- Layout designed to allow the reader to gather the concept quickly or gain a more detailed understanding of any given area according to need
- Design icons direct readers to their own specialist areas of interest, e.g. manual therapy, movement therapy, visual assessment, kinaesthetic education or supplementary video material
- Appendices discuss the relevance of the Anatomy Trains concept to the work of Dr Louis Schultz (Meridians of Latitude), Ada Rolf (Structural Integration) and the practice of Oriental Medicine
- Accompanying website (www.myersmyofascialmeridians.com) presents multi-media exploration of the concepts described in the book - film clips from Kinesis DVDs, computer graphic representations of the Anatomy Trains, supplementary dissection photographs and video clips, webinars, and some extra client photos for visual assessment practice
- Text updated in relation to the most up-to-date research originally published at the International Fascia Research Congress, Vancouver, 2012
- Includes the latest evidence for the scientific basis of common clinical findings, including preliminary evidence from human fascial dissections
- Explores the role of fascia as our largest sensory organ
- Contains updates arising out of continual teaching and practice – for example, the role of the fascia and its interconnectivity in the generation of pain and/or force transmission
- New chapter discusses the role of Anatomy Trains theory in the analysis of gait
- Video clips on an associated website (www.myersmyofascialmeridians.com) present examples of the concepts explored in the book
- Podcasts on the website explore the therapeutic techniques involved
- Website addresses and references fully updated throughout
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front cover | cover | ||
| Inside front cover | ifc1 | ||
| Half title page | i | ||
| Dedication | ii | ||
| Anatomy® Trains, 3/e | iii | ||
| Copyright page | iv | ||
| Table of Contents | v | ||
| Preface | vii | ||
| Preface to the first edition | viii | ||
| References | viii | ||
| Acknowledgements | ix | ||
| References | ix | ||
| How to use this book | xi | ||
| Myofascial Meridians website | xiii | ||
| I Introduction: laying the railbed | 1 | ||
| The hypothesis | 1 | ||
| The philosophy | 2 | ||
| Anatomy Trains and myofascial meridians: what’s in a name? | 4 | ||
| History | 6 | ||
| References | 11 | ||
| 1 Fascia and biomechanical regulation | 13 | ||
| ‘Blessed be the ties that bind’: fascia holds our cells together | 13 | ||
| The extracellular matrix | 15 | ||
| How to build a body | 18 | ||
| Connective tissue plasticity | 19 | ||
| The three holistic networks | 24 | ||
| The neural net | 24 | ||
| The fluid net | 25 | ||
| The fibrous net | 26 | ||
| Three holistic networks: a summary | 30 | ||
| All three are networks | 30 | ||
| All three are made from tubes | 31 | ||
| All three convey information | 31 | ||
| All systems intertwine | 34 | ||
| The double-bag theory | 35 | ||
| The formation of the fascial net | 37 | ||
| Double-bagging in the musculoskeletal system | 39 | ||
| The musculoskeletal system as a tensegrity structure | 43 | ||
| Macrotensegrity: how the body manages the balance between tension and compression | 44 | ||
| Tensegrity structures are maximally efficient | 44 | ||
| Tensegrity structures are strain distributors | 46 | ||
| A spectrum of tension-dependent structures | 48 | ||
| Pre-stress and elastic energy storage | 52 | ||
| Myofibroblasts | 53 | ||
| Microtensegrity: how the cells balance tension and compression | 56 | ||
| The ‘adhesome’ | 56 | ||
| Microtensegrity and optimal biomechanical health | 58 | ||
| The new proportion | 58 | ||
| The self-adjusting mechanosome | 59 | ||
| References | 61 | ||
| 2 The rules of the game | 67 | ||
| 1. ‘Tracks’ proceed in a consistent direction without interruption | 67 | ||
| A. Direction | 67 | ||
| B. Depth | 67 | ||
| C. Intervening planes | 68 | ||
| 2. These tracks are tacked down at bony ‘stations’ or attachments | 69 | ||
| 3. Tracks join and diverge in ‘switches’ and the occasional ‘roundhouse’ | 70 | ||
| 4. ‘Expresses’ and ‘locals’ | 70 | ||
| Summary of rules and guidelines | 71 | ||
| What the Anatomy Trains is not | 72 | ||
| A comprehensive theory of manipulative therapy | 72 | ||
| A comprehensive theory of muscle action | 72 | ||
| A comprehensive theory of movement | 72 | ||
| The only way to parse body structure | 72 | ||
| A complete anatomy text | 72 | ||
| A scientifically supported theory | 72 | ||
| How we present the lines | 72 | ||
| References | 73 | ||
| 3 The Superficial Back Line | 75 | ||
| Overview | 75 | ||
| Postural function | 75 | ||
| Movement function | 75 | ||
| The Superficial Back Line in detail | 75 | ||
| General considerations | 75 | ||
| From toes to heel | 76 | ||
| The plantar fascia | 77 | ||
| A simple test | 78 | ||
| Heel spurs | 79 | ||
| From heel to knee | 79 | ||
| Heel as arrow | 80 | ||
| ‘Expresses’ and ‘locals’ | 82 | ||
| Derailment | 83 | ||
| The distal hamstrings | 84 | ||
| From knee to hip | 84 | ||
| Separating the hamstrings | 85 | ||
| Rotation at the knee | 85 | ||
| Hip to sacrum | 85 | ||
| Stations | 85 | ||
| The sacrotuberous ligament | 86 | ||
| From sacrum to occiput | 86 | ||
| Erector spinae fascia | 86 | ||
| The suboccipitals | 88 | ||
| From occiput to supraorbital ridge | 90 | ||
| The scalp | 90 | ||
| The neurocranium and the SBL | 91 | ||
| General movement treatment considerations | 91 | ||
| Overall stretches | 92 | ||
| Specific areas | 92 | ||
| Palpation guide for the SBL | 93 | ||
| References | 96 | ||
| 4 The Superficial Front Line | 99 | ||
| Overview | 99 | ||
| Postural function | 99 | ||
| Movement function | 99 | ||
| General manual therapy considerations | 99 | ||
| The Superficial Front Line in detail | 99 | ||
| The shin | 100 | ||
| The anterior crural compartment | 100 | ||
| The thigh | 103 | ||
| The quadriceps | 104 | ||
| Branch lines | 104 | ||
| Derailment | 105 | ||
| The abdomen | 107 | ||
| The rectus abdominis | 107 | ||
| The chest | 108 | ||
| The sternal area | 110 | ||
| The SFL in the neck | 110 | ||
| The sternocleidomastoid | 111 | ||
| The scalp | 111 | ||
| General movement treatment considerations | 111 | ||
| Palpating the Superficial Front Line | 112 | ||
| References | 115 | ||
| 5 The Lateral Line | 117 | ||
| Overview | 117 | ||
| Postural function | 117 | ||
| Movement function | 117 | ||
| The Lateral Line in detail | 117 | ||
| General manual therapy considerations | 117 | ||
| The lateral arch | 117 | ||
| The fibulari (peroneals) | 117 | ||
| The thigh | 118 | ||
| The iliotibial tract | 121 | ||
| The abductor muscles and the greater trochanter | 121 | ||
| Derailment | 121 | ||
| The iliac crest and waist | 121 | ||
| The rib cage | 122 | ||
| The neck | 123 | ||
| The Lateral Line and the shoulder | 123 | ||
| General movement treatment considerations | 124 | ||
| Assessment and stretches | 124 | ||
| Palpating the Lateral Line | 125 | ||
| References | 131 | ||
| 6 The Spiral Line | 133 | ||
| Overview | 133 | ||
| Postural function | 133 | ||
| Movement function | 133 | ||
| The Spiral Line in detail | 133 | ||
| General manual therapy considerations | 134 | ||
| The rhombo-serratus muscle | 135 | ||
| The internal and external oblique complex | 137 | ||
| Roundhouse: the anterior superior iliac spine | 138 | ||
| The lower Spiral Line | 138 | ||
| The ‘violin’ of the iliotibial tract | 138 | ||
| The lower leg | 140 | ||
| The arches and the ‘stirrup’ | 140 | ||
| The back of the leg | 141 | ||
| The 4th hamstring | 141 | ||
| The posterior Spiral Line | 142 | ||
| General movement considerations: reciprocity | 143 | ||
| Palpating the Spiral Line | 143 | ||
| References | 150 | ||
| 7 The Arm Lines | 153 | ||
| Overview | 153 | ||
| Postural function | 153 | ||
| Movement function | 153 | ||
| The Arm Lines in detail | 153 | ||
| Orientation to the Arm Lines | 153 | ||
| The Deep Front Arm Line | 154 | ||
| The pectoralis minor | 156 | ||
| The biceps express | 158 | ||
| The lower arm | 159 | ||
| The ‘thumb line’ | 159 | ||
| The Superficial Front Arm Line | 159 | ||
| Stretch assessment for the Superficial and Deep Front Arm Lines | 161 | ||
| The Deep Back Arm Line | 161 | ||
| A judo roll | 164 | ||
| The Superficial Back Arm Line | 164 | ||
| Stretch assessment for the Superficial and Deep Back Arm Lines | 166 | ||
| Summary overview 1 – the bird’s wing | 166 | ||
| Summary overview 2 – fascia/muscle alternation | 166 | ||
| References | 174 | ||
| 8 The Functional Lines | 177 | ||
| Overview | 177 | ||
| Postural function | 177 | ||
| Movement function | 177 | ||
| The Functional Lines in detail | 177 | ||
| The Back Functional Line | 177 | ||
| The Front Functional Line | 178 | ||
| The Ipsilateral Functional Line | 179 | ||
| Palpating the Functional Lines | 182 | ||
| Engaging the lines | 182 | ||
| Reference | 183 | ||
| 9 The Deep Front Line | 185 | ||
| Overview | 185 | ||
| Postural function | 185 | ||
| Movement function | 185 | ||
| ‘A Silken Tent’ | 185 | ||
| The Deep Front Line in detail | 187 | ||
| The foot and leg: the lowest common track | 187 | ||
| General manual therapy considerations | 189 | ||
| Palpation guide 1: deep posterior compartment | 190 | ||
| The thigh – lower posterior track | 191 | ||
| Palpation guide 2: lower posterior track | 193 | ||
| The thigh – lower anterior track | 194 | ||
| Psoas express and locals | 196 | ||
| The thoracolumbar junction (TLJ) | 198 | ||
| Palpation guide 3: lower anterior track | 198 | ||
| A branch line: the ‘tail’ of the Deep Front Line | 199 | ||
| The pelvic floor | 200 | ||
| The umbilicus | 201 | ||
| The upper posterior track | 201 | ||
| The longus capitis, longus colli, and scalene muscles | 202 | ||
| The upper middle track | 203 | ||
| The upper anterior track | 204 | ||
| References | 209 | ||
| 10 Anatomy Trains in training | 211 | ||
| Fascial Fitness®* | 211 | ||
| Applications of Anatomy Trains in movement | 215 | ||
| Classical sculpture | 216 | ||
| Kouros (Fig. 10.8) | 216 | ||
| Bronze Zeus (Fig. 10.9) | 216 | ||
| Heracles (Fig. 10.10) | 217 | ||
| Aphrodite de Melos (Fig. 10.11) | 218 | ||
| Discobolus (Fig. 10.12) | 218 | ||
| Athletics | 219 | ||
| Tennis player (Fig. 10.13) | 219 | ||
| Basketball (Fig. 10.14) | 220 | ||
| Golfer (Fig. 10.15) | 220 | ||
| Football (Fig. 10.16) | 221 | ||
| Musicians | 221 | ||
| Cellist (Fig. 10.17) | 222 | ||
| Violist (Fig. 10.18) | 222 | ||
| Flautist (Fig. 10.19) | 223 | ||
| Trumpeter (Fig. 10.20) | 223 | ||
| Sitting | 224 | ||
| Integrating the spine in sitting | 225 | ||
| Walking | 227 | ||
| Anatomy Trains in Gait, by James Earls | 228 | ||
| The stretch–shortening cycle | 229 | ||
| Dynamic Anatomy: Walking | 230 | ||
| Mapping Dynamic Anatomy | 231 | ||
| An ‘Awareness Through Movement’ lesson | 235 | ||
| Rolling over | 235 | ||
| ATM lesson lines analysis | 236 | ||
| Developmental movement stages | 237 | ||
| Some examples from Asian Somatics | 239 | ||
| Yoga asana | 239 | ||
| Shiatsu, acupressure, or thumb work | 242 | ||
| Aikido or judo roll | 243 | ||
| Karate kick | 244 | ||
| Summary | 245 | ||
| References | 246 | ||
| 11 Structural analysis | 249 | ||
| Global postural assessment method | 249 | ||
| Step 1: a positional vocabulary | 250 | ||
| Terminology | 250 | ||
| Compared to what? | 251 | ||
| Definitions: Tilt, Bend, Shift, and Rotation | 252 | ||
| Yet more detail | 254 | ||
| Shoulders | 254 | ||
| Feet | 254 | ||
| Step 2: an assessment of the soft tissues | 255 | ||
| Step 3: the development of an integrating story | 256 | ||
| Step 4: the development of a strategy | 256 | ||
| Step 5: evaluation and revision of the strategy | 256 | ||
| Virtue | 257 | ||
| Postural analysis of five ‘clients’ | 257 | ||
| Client 1 (Fig. 11.9A–E) | 257 | ||
| Step 1 | 257 | ||
| Step 2 | 258 | ||
| Step 3 | 259 | ||
| Step 4 | 259 | ||
| Client 2 (Fig. 11.10A–E) | 259 | ||
| Step 1 | 259 | ||
| Step 2 | 259 | ||
| Step 3 | 260 | ||
| Step 4 | 261 | ||
| Client 3 (Fig. 11.11A–E) | 261 | ||
| Step 1 | 261 | ||
| Step 2 | 261 | ||
| Step 3 | 262 | ||
| Step 4 | 262 | ||
| Client 4 (Fig. 11.12A–E) | 263 | ||
| Step 1 | 263 | ||
| Step 2 | 264 | ||
| Step 3 | 264 | ||
| Step 4 | 264 | ||
| Client 5 (Fig. 11.13A–E) | 264 | ||
| Step 1 | 264 | ||
| Step 2 | 266 | ||
| Step 3 | 266 | ||
| Step 4 | 266 | ||
| Summary | 266 | ||
| Subjective elements | 267 | ||
| 1. Do the assessment in front of a full-length mirror, with both you and the client looking at the image | 267 | ||
| 2. Notice your first impression | 267 | ||
| 3. Note a minimum of three positive aspects first | 267 | ||
| 4. Describe the issues you see in the objective language outlined above | 267 | ||
| A. Whole systems communicators | 268 | ||
| B. Tissue dominance | 268 | ||
| C. Somato-emotional orientations | 268 | ||
| D. Perceptual orientation | 268 | ||
| E. Internal and external orientation/cylinders | 268 | ||
| F. Primary rotation | 269 | ||
| G. Pelvic position | 269 | ||
| H. Weight distribution in the feet | 270 | ||
| I. Balancing halves | 270 | ||
| J. Somatic maturity | 271 | ||
| References | 273 | ||
| 1 Appendix: A note on the meridians of latitude: the work of Dr Louis Schultz (1927–2007) | 275 | ||
| Reference | 277 | ||
| 2 Appendix: Structural integration | 279 | ||
| The Anatomy Trains ‘recipe’ | 281 | ||
| Superficial sessions | 281 | ||
| Session 1 | 281 | ||
| Session 2 | 281 | ||
| Session 3 | 281 | ||
| Session 4 | 286 | ||
| Core sessions | 286 | ||
| Session 5 | 286 | ||
| Session 6 | 286 | ||
| Session 7 | 286 | ||
| Session 8 | 289 | ||
| Integration sessions (Fig. A2.14) | 289 | ||
| Session 9 | 289 | ||
| Session 10 | 289 | ||
| Session 11 | 289 | ||
| Session 12 | 289 | ||
| Principles of treatment | 289 | ||
| Guidelines for strategy | 289 | ||
| Principles of body and hand use | 292 | ||
| Goals | 292 | ||
| Reference | 292 | ||
| 3 Appendix: Myofascial meridians and Asian medicine | 293 | ||
| References | 300 | ||
| Anatomy Trains terms | 301 | ||
| Anatomy/physiology | 301 | ||
| Abbreviations/acronyms | 301 | ||
| Lines | 301 | ||
| Bibliography | 303 | ||
| Index | 309 | ||
| A | 309 | ||
| B | 309 | ||
| C | 310 | ||
| D | 310 | ||
| E | 311 | ||
| F | 311 | ||
| G | 311 | ||
| H | 311 | ||
| I | 312 | ||
| J | 312 | ||
| K | 312 | ||
| L | 312 | ||
| M | 313 | ||
| N | 313 | ||
| O | 313 | ||
| P | 313 | ||
| Q | 314 | ||
| R | 314 | ||
| S | 314 | ||
| T | 316 | ||
| U | 316 | ||
| V | 316 | ||
| W | 317 | ||
| X | 317 | ||
| Y | 317 | ||
| Z | 317 |