Intro to Myofascial Meridians

I've briefly touched on fascia and myofascial meridians in some of my past blogs, and if you're a client, we've probably talked about them!  So, with the new year, I thought I'd start 2015 off with a 13 part blog series!  You read that right.  

Thirteen. Part. Blog. Series.

Part One: Intro to Myofascial Meridians

What is a myofascial meridian?
     A connected string of myofascial or fascial structures.  Lines that transmit strain and rebound, facilitate movement, and provide stability throughout the structures of our bodies.

How many myofascial meridians exist?

     According to Myers (author of Anatomy Trains), there are twelve specific fascial lines throughout the body.

1. SBL - superficial back line
2. SFL - superficial front line
3. LL - lateral line
4. SL - spiral line
5. DFAL - deep front arm line
6. SFAL - superficial front arm line
7. DBAL - deep back arm line
8. SBAL - superficial back arm line
9. BFL - back functional line
10. FFL - front functional line
11. IFL - ipsilateral functional line
12. DFL - deep front line

Why are myofascial meridians important?
     They make up the "fascial net", which holds everything together.  Connective tissue (fascia) binds every cell to the next and even bonds the internal network of each cell to the mechanical state of the entire body.  These meridians are able to store and communicate information throughout the body as a whole.
   
What are some benefits of addressing postural compensations (postural deviations that cause pain - local or widespread) throughout these myofascial meridians?

• Skeletal alignment and support
• Resilience throughout the body
• Increased range of motion
• Reduced pain
• Length throughout the body leading to reduced effort and stress in standing or moving

Each week, I'll be posting an individual article for each myofascial meridians.  I'll go over the muscles, bony landmarks, and common postural compensations associated with each one, as well as stretches and tips to help alleviate related pain.

Stay tuned next week for an in depth look at the Superficial Back Line!