Anatomy Trains - Myofascial Meridians For Manual and Movement Therapists (2nd Edition) - Tom Myers

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 ‘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.

Anatomy Trains - Myofascial Meridians For Manual and Movement Therapists (2nd Edition) - Tom Myers