Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists

"using Cranial Sacral Therapy as a mode of Therapy, I have become aware of the body working as a whole and Anatomy Trains is a guide to a new level of consideration for me giving a working formular to achieve results otherwise would take many sessions to achieve.
It is a well designed and layed out manual for easy referencing and is deffinately a great addition to any therapists, sportsman-woman's, doctors library."
~ Written on 2009-11-03

"This book turns the dominant view of the musculo-skeletal system on its head. Myers has transcended the limitations of the reductionist notion that muscles alone control the body's shape and replaced it with a revolutionary way of interpreting movement and posture. Leaving behind the notion that isolated muscles act independently to approximate their origins and insertions, Myers has developed a framework based on the idea of myofascial slings that span the length and breadth of the body to act upon it as a whole. In so doing, he has brought us one step closer to appreciating the seamless integration of this miraculous living mechanism.

The ideas in this book are fascinating and the clarity and enthusiasm with which Myers puts them across is inspirational. What is even more impressive is the modest and unassuming way in which he presents his hypothesis. A lesser man might easily have been tempted to pose as an oracle and present this concept as some newly discovered revelation about the ultimate nature of humanity. Myers, however, is keen to emphasise that his theory tackles but one part of our near infinite complexity and jumps ahead of the known facts to weave together a picture that may well need revision or refinement in the face of new discoveries.

The introduction gives an overview of his concept and a clear account of the evolution of his ideas. He describes his personal journey and the historical and cultural background in which this took place so the reader can appreciate the broader context in which these ideas have arisen. A whole chapter is then devoted to the anatomy and physiology of the fascia, with a special emphasis on its role as the integrating element in the body's architecture. This allows Myers to explore fascia's place in the general plan of the body and introduce related concepts such as tensegrity and the embryological origins of `double-bagging', which inform and support his theory.

After introducing the principles by which he has determined what constitutes an Anatomy Train, Myers then devotes a chapter to each of the key `myofascial meridians' that he has identified. The anatomy of each of these myofascial slings is described in detail and they are beautifully illustrated making them easily accessible and comprehensible at a glance. Their functional significance and the clinical relevance of this way of looking at human posture and movement are also explored, making this an invaluable practical resource for manual and movement therapists of all kinds. Here too, Myers' modesty is to be admired as he respectfully acknowledges the value of diverse approaches to working with the body and simply provides the information necessary for others to apply his ideas in their own way.

This book is not a final answer to problem of human posture and movement but it does present a new way of thinking about it that will be invaluable to anyone who works in these fields. It is an interesting and engaging read and it will certainly change the way you think about the body."
~ Written on 2009-11-01

"A must for all serious athletes, coaches and physiotherapists. Makes you think in a different but also logical way. If you feel the common biomechanical model of a single muscle movement is limiting read this and open your mind!"
~ Written on 2009-10-14

"Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists
Thomas W. Myers
Publisher: Churchill Livingstone; 2nd edition
ISBN-13: 978-0443102837

The author produced the first edition of this work in 2001 when he fused embryology, gross and microscopic anatomy, the work of James Oschman, Raymond Dart, Buckminster Fuller, Louis Schultz, Moshe Feldenkrais and Ida Rolf, as well as a large chunk of his own insight, to create this unique textbook.

The introductory sections help explain where the metaphor in the title originates from, and describes the author's view that; `Anatomy Trains fills a need for a global view of human structure and movement.' The extensive fascial network that underpins man's anatomy is the physical structure in question. Unlike in meridian theory relating to acupuncture practice, fascial links or tendrils can be dissected out and studied as a distinct anatomical entity. Until now the concept of fascial tensegrity has been poorly understood and its implications explored to a minimal extent from a clinical perspective.

This work asks the reader to consider that the nature of connective tissue is not limited to simply acting to shape the body, but to provide much more. It's plastic not inert; it's responsive to injury and has a direct link to the nervous system with which it has intimate evolutionary relationships; it's adaptable following injury and produces a wide number of substances into the intracellular space and as such has a secretary capacity. Myers theory calls into question many of the muscle tests that study a muscle in isolation, rather than view it as a functional unit within a larger interconnected body.

So myofascia is more than just `stuff', and this book is much more than just another bodywork book. It brings physiology to life, transforming what has always been regarded as an academic subject and transforming it into something close to poetry. It is also likely to inspire many working in the physical therapies, osteopaths, physiotherapists, podiatrists, Alexander Technique teachers etc to revisit the reasons that attracted them to their vocation and appreciate just how extraordinary the human body is.
One recent work which draws on the conceptual insight within Myers' text is `Stability, Sport and Performance Movement: Great technique without injury' by Joanne Elphinston (Lotus Publications), which can be highly recommended to those interested in designing treatment programmes and assessment methods based on muscle integration. I suspect there will be a number of further publications, both books and research papers, based on Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists, over the coming months.

There might be a recession at present, but this textbook will repay you with its extraordinary insight and perhaps rekindle your curiosity on how the human body is..... Or perhaps should be?


Donald Scott ND DO"
~ Written on 2009-10-10

"This book is written in language understood by most people and the words they believe may cause a problem are explained. Anatomy trains is well written and illustrated. I wish I had known about it when first I delved into complementary therapies.
Thankyou Amazon for delivering this and all other purchases I have made securely packed and speedily sent."
~ Written on 2009-06-27