Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72121
BODYREADING THE MERIDIANS Peroneus (fibularis) longus Biceps femoris The upper Spiral Line continues from the serratus into the upper part of the external oblique, which connects fascially and functionally across the abdominal fascial sheets to the internal oblique on the opposite side. It gets confusing, but now we Confluence of peroneus tibialis anterior lliotibial tract and tensor fasciae latae A Peroneus longus tendon Tibialis anterior tendon This rather startling image demonstrates an underlying truth of anatomical connection: there is a consistent and posturally significant myofascial loop that goes from the front of the pelvis to the back of the pelvis by way of a sling pulled snugly under the arches. are back to the same side we started on. The right Spiral Line involves the right side of the head, the left shoulder and rib cage, and back to the right hip. Obviously, there would be an opposite—and hopefully equal—left Spiral Line looping from the left of the head around to the right shoulder and ribs and back to the left hip. (Don't worry; I still have to puzzle out left and right on this line, too, especially if I am looking in the mirror with the client to explain what's up.) This brings us to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), but we can keep right on going: the lower Spiral Line continues in the same direction with the tensor fasciae latae, which of course continues into the anterior portion of the iliotibial band (Image 4A). The anterior iliotibial tract clearly blends into the B Enjoy free ABMP webinars with Thomas Myers as he details his BodyReading the Meridians series. Visit ABMP.com to register for upcoming webinars and to access past webinars in the archives. fascia of the upper tibialis anterior, which in turn carries us across the front of the tibia to the inner arch (Image 4B)—but don't stop here. The peroneus longus (now the fibularis longus) continues under the arch of the foot, looping under the cuboid of the lateral arch and up the lateral lower leg to the fibular head. We all know the lateral hamstring is attached to the head of the fibula, so the biceps femoris completes the jump rope of the lower Spiral Line, linking the fibularis longus to the ischial tuberosity, your sitting bone. As we will see, understanding this loop from the very front (ASIS) to the very back of the pelvis (iliotibial) links your pelvic angle to arch support. The Spiral Line continues across the sacrotuberous ligament and past the sacroiliac (SI) joint to travel back on up via the erector spinae of the head. Since we already covered this track in the Superficial Back Line episode, let us proceed to BodyReading issues in the Spiral Line. BODYREADING THE UPPER SPIRAL LINE We will deal with the upper and lower Spiral Line separately, for ease of understanding. 96 massage & bodywork january/february 2012