1. The Superficial Back Line

Welcome to the first myofascial meridian!  

The Superficial Back Line

     I personally struggle with this guy.  Tight calves (gastrocnemius), knotted-up hamstrings, shortened erectors in the lumbar area, which means - you guessed it - all the connective tissue (fascia) that encase those muscles and helps keep them tacked down the my bones is nice and tied up, too.  I can definitely thank the Superficial Back Line for my low back issues.

So, if you have pain or tightness along your spine, tightness in the back of your neck, or have trouble touching your toes when you're doing all those awesome stretches I've suggested, you can bet that issues lie within the SBL.

Let's go ahead and go over all the bits and pieces of the SBL so we can get right to the solution to those possible issues.

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     The superficial back line (SBL) runs along the entire posterior surface of the body, from the toes all the way up to the brow.  It's postural function is to keep the body upright.  It is what allows us to sit up straight and walk tall.

Each meridian consists of muscles + connective tissues (i.e. ligaments, tendons, fascial sheets) and attach to specific bony landmark to allow mobility through the entire track. 

Muscles within the SBL:
Erector Spinae
Hamstrings
Gastrocnemius
Short toe flexors

Connective tissue (ligaments, tendons, fascial sheets) that make up the rest of the SBL:
Epicranal fascia
Sacrotuberousligament
Achilles tendon
Plantar fascia

The bony landmarks that the SBL anchors to:
Frontal bone
Suboccipital ridge
Occipital ridge
Scarum
Ischial tuberosity
Condyles of the femur
Calcaneus
Plantar surface of the toes

Common postural deviations associated with the SBL are:
Hyperextension of the knees
Lordosis
Hamstring shortness
Hyperextension of the upper cervial spine

Some stretches that address parts of and the entire SBL:
Seated forward bend (A)
Forward bend (B)
Downward dog (C)
Plow pose (D)
Child's pose (not pictured)

Also, laying on your stomach stretched over a large exercise ball (like so) aids in relaxation of the entire SBL.

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So...?  How was that?  Do you guys have a better idea of what myofascial meridians are now?

Shoots me any questions or comments you might have here or here (Facebook) or here (Twitter).

Next week, I'll be going over the Superficial Front Line!