Fascialines in the human body
What are fascialines?
Fascias are the basis of the connective tissue network of the body.
It has a number of functions but in general it combines different tissues and organs to work harmonically together. Fascia research has started several decades ago by the famous Thomas Mayers, Robert Schleip and Antonio Stecco.
They have been the pioneers in fascia research field. Several researches have shown the importance of the fascial lines as a part of natural body movement patterns and the role in the fluent body control but it also gives explanations to the arising imbalances. Fascial network acts as the biomechanical regulatory system of the whole body.
1. Deep Frontal Line. Deep frontal line is the basis or core of the fascial lines. The deep frontal line is there to stabilize the body posture (feet arches, pelvic floor, lumbar spine, thoracic wall and the structures of the head) via the deep structures by supporting and stabilizing.
It also takes part to the movements of other fascial lines by creating and controlling them. One of its most important functions is to create diaphragms movement and support the rhythm of breathing. Deep frontal line runs from the sole of the foot to middle side of the knee and to lumbar spine.
From there it branches in two, one from lumbar spine to occiput and the other from lumbar spine to mandible. Worsening of deeper muscle support moves the load to outer fascial lines and can be the reason for the overload of the joints or surrounding tissues.
2. Superior Posterior Line. Superior posterior fascial line combines posterior parts of the body together and supports maintaining upright position.
There are two parts of the superior posterior fascial line, right and left part. They run through the sole of the foot, from toes to knees, back and neck, all the way to the eyebrows.
Most common problems are due to spending too much time in sitting position. It can cause muscle tightening in upper neck, lower back, posterior tights and calves. This tightness might cause different kinds of compensation mechanisms in the body and by that lead to postural changes.
3. Superior Frontal Line. Superior frontal line follows the midline of the body at the right and left side of it. It is there to balance superior posterior line, and they work as counterparts.
While superior posterior line works in extension movements of the body, superior frontal line works as its opposite, in the body flexion. It elevates front sides of the body, bony structures like thoracic wall, pubic bone and face.
One function is also to keep up the knees extension. Superior frontal line runs from the distal end of the toes via metatarsus, hip and pubic bone area to the both sides of the scull.
Most common problems related to this line are problems in the balance of posterior and frontal superior lines and due to that the compensations of the body. Those compensations can be for example anteriorly tilting or anteriorly transitioning pelvis, hyper extension of the knees or protracted head position.
4. Lateral Line. Lateral line works together with and it combines to the superior frontal and posterior fascial lines connecting front and back sides of the body to work together.
The main function of the lateral line is to balance and transmit the forces between frontal, posterior, right and left part of the body. Lateral line works for example in hip abduction, lateral flexion of the body and in rotation movements of the core.
The line runs from medial and lateral sides of the feet, it converges to one piece in the lateral sides of the body, one in right and one in left side. From the lateral side of the body line goes up to occiput.
Very common problems related to the lateral line are maintaining good position of the knee and ankle. Tightness of the muscles in these areas can cause weakening of the tight adductor muscles and stiffness of lumbar spine area.
5. Spiral Line. Spiral line runs around the body in a spiral like double helix. It takes part in most movements of the body, it supports other lines’ work, it has an influence on balance and knees position maintenance.
Spiral line runs from occiput and scapula, to frontal side of the body, the hip area, shinbone and to toes. From the toes line goes upwards back to fibula, ischium and back to occiput.
Common problems related to spiral line are body rotation and bending, also side way transition.
6. Upper Limb Lines. There are four upper limb lines. Two of them are in the back and rest two of them are in the front side of the body. The backside lines are superior posterior upper limb line from occiput to back of the hands and back side of the fingers, and deep posterior upper limb line from the lowest cervical vertebras to the little fingers.
At the frontal side of the body is superior frontal upper limb line. It runs from collarbones and ribs to the palmar side of the hands. The deeper frontal upper limb line runs from the ribs to thumb instead. Upper limb lines are there among other things to support wrists and they take part in eye-hand co-operation.
Most common problems are different kinds of shoulder problems like forward rounded shoulders or rotated scapulas, different kinds of shoulder, carpal tunnel (wrist) or elbow nerve compressions and shoulder muscle tightnesses.
7. Functional Lines. Functional fascial lines are posterior, frontal and ipsilateral functional lines. Posterior functional line runs from the proximal third of the humerus to the opposite side to femur and to fibula.
Frontal functional line starts also from humerus but it goes down to rectus abdominis muscles to the opposite side’s femur. Ipsilateral functional line goes from latissimus dorsi muscle via external oblique abdominis muscles to fibula.
The meaning of functional fascial lines is basically to support and make possible to move opposite side limbs together. Just like when walking hands and legs of the opposite sides should roll through the movement harmonically. Same kind of moving is also there in running or when throwing something with hand.
The muscles of the functional lines are mostly superior muscles. They support the posture of the upper body and their work while in the same time they help keeping the core muscles stabilized, they support the work of the lower limbs and transmit forces through body parts.
Common problems related to the functional lines are the rotations of the body because of the living habits and manners. That can easily lead to muscle tightness or unfavorable stretch which may cause harmful body structure loading.
The idea of Fasciawear is based on tension strips sewn in to Fasciawear along myofascia. This enhances the natural pulling in mechanism of the fascia and muscles on the bone structure that is pushing out.
As most of the body sensing is fascial, the resistance of Fasciawear increases body awareness and improves motor control. The tension strips help core muscle activation, increase the workload of the movement and activate biotensegrity in the body by helping the fascia glide against each other during movement.