Myofascial Length Testing Practical assessment tools for the myofascial therapist Volume 1 Superficial Flexor Fascia Superficial Extensor Fascia Lateral Fascia Addendum includes: Gracillis, Sartorius, Vastus lateralis & Vastus medialis Donna F Bajelis, PT SMS CHP Ivan Duben, BCSI SMS
Contents Introduction... 4 Superficial Flexor Fascia... 5 Superficial Flexor Fascia Testing Form... 6 Test Ext Digitorum longus... 7 Test Ext Hallucis Longus... 8 Test Tibialis Anterior... 9 Test Rectus Femoris... 10 Test Rectus abdominus... 11 Test Sternalis... 13 Test SCM... 14 Sternoclydomastoid... 15 Superficial Extensor Fascia... 16 Superficial Extensor Fascia Testing Form... 17 Test Plantar fascia... 18 Test Gastrocnemius... 20 Test Hamstrings... 22 Test Sacrotuberous ligament... 24 SEF #5-Erector spinae... 25 Test Lumbar erector spinae... 26 Test Sub-occipitals... 28 Lateral Fascia...29 Lateral Fascia Testing Form... 30 Test Peroneals... 31 Test IT Band... 32 Gluteus maximus... 34 Internal/external obliques... 35 Test Internal obliques... 36 Test External obliques... 37 Intercostals / Endothoracic Fascia... 38 Test Posterior Endothoracic... 39 Test Anterior Endothoracic Fascia... 40 Test Splenius capitis... 41 Addendum Additional Tests...43 Gracilis... 44 Test Gracilis... 45 Sartorius... 46 Test Sartorius... 47 Gluteus medius... 48 Test Gluteus medius... 49 Gluteus Minimus... 50 Test Gluteus Minimus... 51 Vastus Lateralis... 52 Test Vastus lateralis... 53 Vastus Medialis... 54 Test Vastus Medialis... 55 2 Myofascial Length Testing Volume I
Acknowledgements Course material Donna F Bajelis, PT, SMS, CHP Founder and Director Institute of Structural Medicine www.structuralmedicine.com Composition Ivan Duben BCSI, SMS, Faculty teacher (ISM) www.ivanduben.com Assistant editor Maclain Freeman, CHP, SMS Anatomy reference source Standing, Susan (2008) Elsevier, Gray s Anatomy 40 th Contact info and course presentation Ivan Duben 3680 Trinity Street Vancouver, BC V5K 1G6 Canada Tel 604.240.2444 ivanduben@telus.net Donna F Bajelis, PT, SMS, CHP 103 Ross Road Twisp, WA 98856 USA Cell 206.713.9758 donnabajelis@gmail.com Photography James Dittiger www.jamesdittiger.com Models Ivan Duben Judy Chambers Copyright Myofascial Length Testing Volume I 3
Introduction The following text is the results of decades of dedication to the blending of Physical Therapy and Structural Integration. It was born out of the necessity to better understand the characteristics of the human fascial web that embodies us all. It was developed by Donna F. Bajelis PT, SMS and is part of the curriculum at the Institute of Structural Medicine where she currently resides as director. The tests themselves are ingenious in that they help systematically break down the oftencomplex myofascial meridians and lines. Now fascial therapists can discover exactly which part of which line requires myofascial release the most. Now we have a choice as to how to best approach each fascial segment by positioning it either on slack or under tension during treatment to optimize treatment effects. Then we re-test to see the results of the treatment. Aside from manual therapists, movement specialists can use these tests to better understand how fascial tension affects posture and how biomechanical disadvantages can be hidden in gravity. Often strength training a hypertonic muscle can have limited effect if the muscle is bound in its own fascia. It may show up as a weak muscle. These tests are not an answer for chronic pain but they can begin to point us in the right direction of treatment. More importantly, the tests should always be used with the big picture in mind. In this case the big picture is the tensegrity model of the human fascial web. We cannot treat a single segment of fascia without it somehow impacting the entire fascial system. Now we can explore how fascial work impacts range of motion by testing before and after treatments. Now we can measure the results in a reproducible manner and monitor the progress of our patients. This text is for the scientist and the artist in all of us. Welcome to the world of myofascial length testing! Thank you, on behalf of all of us at the Institute of Structural Medicine. Donna F. Bajelis 4 Myofascial Length Testing Volume I
Superficial Flexor Fascia 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Figure 1 SFL Myofascial Structures 1. Sternocleidomastoid 2. Sternalis 3. Rectus Abdominus 4. Rectus Femoris 5. Tibialis anterior 6. Extensor hallucis longus 7. Extensor digitorum Myofascial Length Testing Volume I 5