myofascial coupling and its effects on arthrokinematic coupling

Hi i'm back again with some new info to help out those that are into myofascial release techniques.

have you ever wondered what the association is between myofascia and bones and how these affect arthrokinematic movement.

A theory out there from luigi stecco an italian physiotherapist states that the chinese meridian channels relate to the functional movement that the body uses to integrate movment between multiple joints.

this is an attractive theory as it solves the problem of degree's of freedom with complex movment patterns.

Stecco states that each meridian is associated with movement in one plane eg

for the upper limb

the lung meridian is associated with the flexion
the large intestine meridian is associated with abduction
the small intestine meridian is associated with extension
the heart meridian is associated with adduction
the triple heater AKA sanjiao is realted to external rotation
the pericardium meridan is related to internal rotation


the meridians have a relationship whith spinal segments
the literature acknowledges there is coupling at the joint but how it couples is a matter of contention so maybe the myofascia with its tensile force about the joints have an effect on the arthrokinematics.

research has shown that coupling occurs at the cervical and or thoracic joints with arm flexion and abduction. however there are no lever systems that can be appreciated to create movement as with other joints. the movement that is induced maybe caused by the myofascial elements.

a recent book that has been published by leon chaitow titled muscles and meridian explains these concepts as well.

so maybe there are coupling mechanisms occuring with the myofascia as well to determine the couping at the joint level.


embryologically we were designed with only three muscular compartments; anterior (flexion muscle group ), posterior (extension), and lateral plate (abduction). as the embyo develops the flexion group is coupled with abduction and the external rotation group, and extension is coupled with adduction and internal rotaion groups.

if this is the case then stecco's idea could be synthesised to explain myofascial coupling.

for example

anterior (lung) abduction (large intestine) and external rotation (Sanjiao)

would relate to the arthrokinematics; anterior glide of the facet joint over the inferior vertebra, roll of the vertebra and spin of the vertebra.

specifically; flexion causes shortening on the compartments in the anterior myofascial chain of the lung meridian which induces tension in the anterior myofascial chain of the vertebrae (spleen channel) creating anterior glide of the facet joint, abduction generated tension in the large intestine meridian and induces tension in the adduction chain (kidney meridian) of the vertebrae creating lateral flexion to the ipsilateral side and external rotation generates tension in sanjiao which generates tension in the internal rotation chain of the vertebra (liver channel)

this relates to ipsilateral side bending with opposite rotation and lateral glide of the superior vertebra in relation to the inferior verteba


Any how this would be handy to alter the arthrokinematics of the spine if it was proved to be true.

for example if there was a right posterior fixation of the facet joint at T2 this would mean a limited ability of the right facet joint of T2 to glide anteriorly lateral flexion tot the right would be limited and there would be limited lateral glide to the left.
therefore increased tension of the anterior chain of the upper limb abduction and external rotation will help the joint resume its normal glide roll and spin.

the neurophysiology behind this could be reciprocal inhibition of the posterior myofascial chain (bladder meridian) (multifidi in this case)

food for thought tell me what you think