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Myofascial Matrix

Chuck Wolf, MSThank you for coming!!!

Functional vs. Anatomical Anatomy

“The traditional mechanistic view of anatomy,as useful as it has been, has objectified rather

than humanized our relationships to our insides.”

“.....whatever else they may be doing individually, muscles also influence functionally integrated body-wide

continuities within fascial webbing.”-----Thomas W. Myers “Anatomy Trains”

“When one part moves, the body as a whole responds.... Functionally, the only tissue that can mediate such a responsiveness is the Connective tissue...... ...Fascia is the organ system of form...

Flexibility Necessary for Sports Performance

Can you bounce back?!!

Our system learns from previous stress and experience!!

Fascia adapts to their dominant loading pattern!

Resilience For Strong Performance

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“Function First, the Anatomy Will Follow”

...Serge Gracovetsky, Ph.D.

What Is Not Connected?

•  Essential to maintain cellular & structural spacing

•  Reticulin (immature collagen) is gradually replaced by collagen produced by mesodermal fibroblasts, comprising the sticky extra-cellular matrix

•  Stimulated by mechanical loading

•  Responds to eccentric loading to strengthen

•  Has 9-10x more proprioceptors in fascia vs. muscle

•  Collagen favors mobility, which results in stability: Tri-plane movement will strengthen

•  Any posture requires fascial system structure: must load in tri-plane positions for adaptation

Fascial Resilience

Have non-linear viscosity which distributes impact!!Can be trained for elasticity which stores and releases energy!!Can re-model for maintenance and repair!!Richest sensory organs!

Fascial Resilience Timing Of Fascial Properties

Viscosity: fractions of a second!!Elasticity: Approximately 1 second!!Plasticity: Minutes!!Remodeling: Days, weeks, months, years!!

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Elastic Storage Capacity

Reeves, 2006, Myotendinous plasticity to aging and resistance exercise in humans!

Tri-plane loading maintains the crimping in fascial tissue and therefore resilience!

Fascial Hydration

Restorative: Slow, melting, multi-directional!small movements on stuck, dense tissue!

Enhance Mobility: Fast, aggressive rolling for !short periods of time on mobile tissues!

Movement and soft tissue work is the body’s plumber: Move and hydrate the tissues

Tensegrity Model

✓  a structural principle based on the use of isolated components in compression inside a net of continuous tension

✓ prestressed tensioned members (usually cables or tendons) delineate the system spatially.

✓ compressed members (usually bars or struts) do not touch each other

✓ Tensegrity is a complimentary relationship of push/pull. They are not

opposite, but dependent upon each other.

✓ Push is divergent while, pull is convergent

Among & Within Fascial Connections

Reticulin: immature collagen

Elastin: elastic tendency

Collagen: mature, adult fiber, generally,Stable and does not bind with water

Mucopolysaccharides, glycoaminoglycans areGel-like (colloidal) & binds with water (hydrophilic)

Takes on any form...impacts posture...The tissue that holds us together...

Extra-Cellular Matrix (ECM)

The 6 Flexibility Highwaysformed by

Fascial Connections

Anterior Flexibility Highway

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Anterior Flexibility Highway

Key Intersections � Anterior Tibialis to distal Quads� Proximal Quads to distal HF� Proximal HF to distal ABS� Proximal ABS to distal PECS� Proximal PECS to distal DELTS� Opposite OBLIQUES to Opposite SHOULDER

Anterior Flexibility Highway

•  Myers, Thomas W., Anatomy Trains, 2nd ed., Churchill Livingstone, December, 2008

Anterior Flexibility Highway

•  Myers, Thomas W., Anatomy Trains, 2nd ed., Churchill Livingstone, December, 2008

Posterior Flexibility Highway

Key Intersections � PLANTAR FASCIA to CALCANEUS

� to ACHILLES� POSTERIOR CALF to distal HAMS� Proximal HAMS to distal GLUTES� Proximal GLUTES to distal E.S.� Opposite Glutes and Lats

� Distal E.S. to OCCIPITAL to CERVICAL ROTATORS

Posterior Flexibility Highway

Key Intersections � PLANTAR FASCIA to CALCANEUS

� to ACHILLES� POSTERIOR CALF to distal HAMS� Proximal HAMS to distal GLUTES� Proximal GLUTES to distal E.S.� Opposite Glutes and Lats

� Distal E.S. to OCCIPITAL to CERVICAL ROTATORS

•  Myers, Thomas W., Anatomy Trains, 2nd ed., Churchill Livingstone, December, 2008

Lateral Flexibility Highway

Key Intersections� PERONEALS to ITB, TFL� ITB, TFL to LATERAL GLUTEALS� LATERAL GLUTEALS to QL, OBLIQUES� OBLIQUES to OPPOSITE PECS & SHOULDER

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•  Myers, Thomas W., Anatomy Trains, 2nd ed., Churchill Livingstone, December, 2008

Lateral Flexibility Highway Lateral Flexibility Highway

X-Factors

Anterior Posterior

notice the direction ofthe fibers of adductors & glutes

Anterior X-Factor

Posterior X-Factor The Turnpike Highway�

Scalene & Capitis Cervicis to opposite Rhomboid to Medial

Border of Scapula to Subscapularis to Serratus

Anterior

Serratus Anterior to Pectorals to External Oblique

External Oblique to opposite pelvis

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Thank you for attending!!!

visit us at www.humanmotionassociates.com Chuck @ humanmotionassociates.comHuman Motion Associates-Chuck Wolf

•  Barker, Priscilla J. et al, Muscle Attachments of the Lumbar Fasciae, 4th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Mow Back & Pelvic Pain, November, 2001

•  Chaitow, Leon, What Binds Us Together?, Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, April, 2003

•  Chaitow, Leon, Chronic Pelvic Pain: Pelvic Floor Problems, Sacroiliac Dysfunction & the Trigger Point Connection, 6th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Pain, November, 2007

•  Grilley, Paul, Hon. Ph.D., Abstract: Working Posture & the Fascial Structures of the Lower Spine, Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, April, 2008

•  Guggenheimer, K. T., et al, Effects of Tensioning the Lumbar Fasciae on Segmental Sagittal Motion & Instability Factor during Flexion & Extension, Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, April, 2008

•  Schleip, R. et al, Active Fascial Contractility: Fascia May Be Able to Contract in a Smooth Muscle-like Manner & thereby Influence Musculoskeletal Dynamics, Dept. of Applied Physiology, Ulm University, Elsevier, March, 2003

References

•  Schleip, Robert, Fascial Plasticity - A New Neurobiological Explanation: Part I, Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, January, 2003

•  Stecco, Carla, et al, Histological Study of the Deep Fasciae of the Limbs, Elsevier, Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, 2008

•  Stecco, Carla, et al, Anatomical Study of Myofascial Continuity in the Anterior Region of the Upper Limb Elsevier, Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, 2007

•  Zorn, Adjo et al, Abstract: The Sprin -like Function of the Lumbar Fascia in Human Walking, 2008

• Myers, Thomas W., Anatomy Trains, 2nd ed., Churchill Livingstone, December, 2008

• Neumann, Donald A., Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System, Mosby, 2002

•  Rolf, Ida P., Rolfing, Health Arts Press, 1989

•  Sahrmann, Shirley A., Movement Impairment Syndromes, Mosby, 2002

•  Schultz, R. Louis, Ph.D., Feitis, Rosemat, D.O., The Endless Web: Fascial Anatomy & Physical Reality, North Atlantic Books, 1996

References