Myofascial Anatomy Trains Midterm and Final study guide by jawadsalman includes 61 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades.
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Superficial Front Line
In our March Newsletter, we talked about the Superficial Back Line, (which is a sheet of fascia travelling up the entire back side of the body and helps our bodies maintain an erect posture). This month we will be talking about the Superficial Front Line.
The Superficial Front Line (SFL) connects the entire front side of the body. It travels from the top of the toes, up the front of the legs, up the torso and around to the sides of skull.
Posturally, the primary function of the SFL is to balance the Superficial Back Line (SBL) and to lift the pelvis, rib cage and face.
The movement function of the SFL is to create flexion of the upper body and hips (bending forward), straightening (extension) of the leg at the knee joint and bending of the foot toward your nose (dorsiflexion).
The most interesting fact about the SFL is that it is directly related to the 'Startle Reflex'.
Human beings have developed a unique way of standing, (erect on two legs). This makes our vital organs more vulnerable and open to injury. The SFL is therefore designed to protect this area. The muscular portion of the SFL contains fast-twitch muscle fibers which help to protect the vital organs by creating strong, sudden flexion movements. It is our natural instinct to move toward the fetal position when faced with danger or stress .
If you were to make a loud noise behind someone's head, the person would draw their body inward and forward. The only exception would be the head. It would tilt backward. Again this is a direct response to the SFL. The SFL pulls the head backward in order to allow the person to continue to see (where the danger is), while the rest of the body curls forward.
When the SFL shortens, it tends to pull in a downward direction and maintains this front curve (fetal position). Although I use the 'fetal position' as an example, it does not mean people with this problem will look like they are completely curled up.
Our bodies ultimately want to be erect (straight). If someone has a contraction of the SFL, the body will compensate to keep this erect posture. There will be signs, however, that help the Therapist recognize contractures of this line.
Common postural compensation patterns associated with the SFL include:
> Hyperextended knees (knees bending backward)
> Pelvis tilted downward in the front ( which creates a large curve in the lower
> Forward head posture
Bony Stations of the Superficial Front Line
As the fascia travels up the posterior (back) side of the body, it crosses many joints. Thomas Myers of Anatomy Trains refers to these as 'Stations'.
The Stations are as follows:
Dorsal Surface of Toe Phalanges(Top of the toes)
Tibial Tuberosity (Bump on the front of the shin bone just below the knee)
Patella (Knee)
Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine (Bony projections on the front of the pelvis )
Pubic Tubercle
5th rib
Sternal Manubrium (Top of the breast bone )
Mastoid Process (Bump just behind the ear )
Myofascial Tracks of the Superficial Front Line
Myofascial tracks follow the muscles that travel up the Superficial Back Line.
The Myofascial tracks are:
Short and long toe extensors, Tibialis Anterior, (Front of lower leg)
Subpatellar Tendon (tendon just below the knee)
Rectus Femoris / Quadriceps (Muscles in the front of thigh)
Rectus Abdominus (abdominal muscles; 'Six Pack')
Sternalis / Sternochondral Fascia (muscle / fascia over the breast bone)
Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) (Muscles in the front of the neck)
Scalp Fascia
Conditions Associated with the Contraction of the Superficial Front Line
Contraction of the Superficial Front line, if held over time could possibly affect every bodily function.
Breathing can become restricted.
Rib Movement can become restricted due to the compensatory actions of both the front and back of the head due to a shortened 'SCM' muscle.
Excess tension in the abdominal region restricts both rib movement and diaphragmatic response.
Forward rotation of the hips causes compression in this region. This affects the balance between the respiratory and pelvic diaphragms and results in only the front of the respiratory diaphragm being used in breathing.'
Headaches due to the forward head posture (anterior head carriage)
To print a copy of the Superficial Front Line, please click on the document at the bottom left hand corner.