The notes below are designed to give prospective readers an idea of what to expect from the book, and to aid in making a decision on whether to buy it.
Myofascial Medicine for Manual and Movement Therapists, Thomas Meyers
This is an EXCELLENT book to read over and flip through but it’s PHD level and I feel confident that if you absorb just 15% of the material you will come away much smarter. It shows how all the different systems of bone, muscles, fascia, nerves, capillaries, and other parts work together in such a seamless manner.
General Notes
Nothing is independent.
Fascia holds everything together. The muscle is elastic, the fascia is plastic. Slowly stretch and it will change, but don’t rip it.
3 systems:
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Neural network from spine and head
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Fluid network from the vascular system
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Fibrous network is the same as a grapefruit matrix
Fascia, nerves, capillaries are all intertwined.
Myofascial links all together, not just muscle and bones - it is everywhere and is its own layer.
Body is a tensile structure like the DIA airport building. The pelvis is the same way and it is elastic not brick-like. These elastic parts distribute strain.
Myofibroblasts are fascia that can contract.
Fascia on back starts at the top of the scalp and links all the way down to the plantar fascia on the foot.
It’s all connected!
We have several different lines in our body:
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Superficial Back Line (SBL) which is helped via dandasina, forward fold, plow, navasana, child’s pose, and downward dog
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Superficial Front Line which can be engaged via up dog, fish, trainable, and Warrior. Military style movements have a tight SBL and lengthen the SFL. Ideally shoulders back but ribs forward towards the pelvis and C7 close to public bone.
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Lateral Line on the sides. Hang from a bar and two lines that go from the left and to the right should be the same. If you go one way, it’s a sign one is tighter. Half-moon, triangle, and gate pose can help. Older people move head side to side more, while teens have a very stable side to side head movement range.
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Spiral Line (SPL) is helped via triangle and seated twists.
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4 arm lines as well - front arm line (carpel tunnel to pectorals and TV Latissimus dorsi trapezius. And the back arm with the dorsi trapezius to the deltoids. The scapula is pulled in many ways. One needs to think about its position versus the rib cage
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Functional line is more superficial, but it’s important, especially when seated. You don’t want your head too far forward or too far back. Chest can fall too far forward, or neck can fall another way.
Subjective mirrors asanas, first impressions, 3 year aspects to find strengths of our yoga.
Somatic energy is linked. Anterior pelvic tilt suggests sympathetic or ego-trophy. Posterior pelvic tilt signifies a strong parasympathetic system.
If depressed exhale stronger. If too calm and self-conscious inhale stronger.