Upper Extremity Myofascial Chains
Top Contributors - Jess Bell, Carin Hunter, Kim Jackson, Lucinda hampton and Robin Tacchetti
Introduction[edit | edit source]
A myofascial chain is a line of connective tissue that runs throughout the body. There is a posterior (back) line, an anterior (front) line, a spiral line, and a lateral line. These lines help the body to move as a unit.[1]
Myofascial chains are important to functional movement, coordination and stability. They can cause pain within the body and structural weakness.[2] By understanding myofascial chains, you can better understand injuries and movement limitations.
In the upper limb there are four myofascial chains:
- Superficial front arm line
- Deep front arm line
- Superficial back arm line
- Deep back arm line
Superficial front arm line[edit | edit source]
- Medial ⅓ clavicle, coastal cartilage
- Pectoralis major, Lattissimus dorsi
- Medial humeral line
- Medial intermuscular septum
- Medial humeral epicondyle
- Flexor group
- Carpal tunnel
- Palmar surface of the fingers
Deep front arm line[edit | edit source]
- 3rd, 4th and 5th ribs
- Pectoralis minor
- Coracoid process
- Biceps brachii
- Radial tuberosity
- Anterior border of radial periosteum
- Styloid process of radius
- Radial collateral ligaments and thenar muscles
- Scaphoid and trapezuim
- Outside of the thumb
Superficial back arm line[edit | edit source]
- Occipital ridge
- Nuchal ligament
- Thoracic spinous process
- Trapezius
- Spine of scapula, acromion, lateral third of clavicle
- Deltoid
- Deltoid tubercle of humerus
- Lateral intramuscular septum
- Lateral epicondyle of humerus
- Extensor group
- Dorsal surface of fingers
Deep back arm line[edit | edit source]
- Spinous process of lower cervicals and upper thoracic, C1-4 transverse processes
- Rhomboids and levator scapula
- Medial border of scapula
- Rotator cuff muscles
- Head of humerus
- Triceps trachii
- Olecranon of ulna
- Fascia along ulnar periosteum
- Styloid process of ulna
- Ulnar collateral ligaments
- Triquetrum, hamate
- Hypothenar muscles
- Outside of little finger
Stabilisation Tracts[edit | edit source]
1. Back arm line[edit | edit source]
- Latissimus dorsi
- Thoracolumbar fascia
- Sacral fascia contralateral to thoracolumbar fascia
- Gluteus max contralateral to thoracolumbar fascia
- Vastus lateralis
2. Front arm line[edit | edit source]
- Pectoralis major
- External oblique
- Adductor longus (opposite side of external oblique)
- Gracilis
- Pes anserine
- Tibial periosteum
- ↑ Bordoni B, Myers T. A review of the theoretical fascial models: biotensegrity, fascintegrity, and myofascial chains. Cureus. 2020 Feb;12(2).
- ↑ Dischiavi SL, Wright AA, Hegedus EJ, Bleakley CM. Biotensegrity and myofascial chains: A global approach to an integrated kinetic chain. Medical hypotheses. 2018 Jan 1;110:90-6.