Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual Therapists and Movement Professionals 4th Edition

Book Preface

Since initial publication in 2001, the reach and applica-tion of the ideas in this book have far outstripped this author’s expectations. We and our faculty have been invited to present these ideas and their application on every continent save Antarctica to a wide variety of profession-als, including orthopedists, physiatrists, orofacial surgeons, physiotherapists, podiatrists, chiropractors, osteopaths, psychologists, athletic and personal trainers, performance coaches, midwives, yoga teachers, martial artists, massage therapists, dancers, musicians, and somatic educators of all stripes. The book is now available in 15 languages. A simple Google search of Anatomy Trains now yields over 13 million hits, as therapists and educators find useful applications beyond our original conception.
This fourth edition includes many small updates and corrections that arose out of our continuing teaching and practice, as well as preliminary evidence from fascial dissec-tions and the few available studies in myofascial force trans-mission beyond muscles’ origin and insertion. We have been able to include some recent discoveries made in the fascial and myofascial world since the third edition, as well as to fill in areas where our initial ignorance of the wider world has been rectified.
For ease of assimilation, the current understanding of fascia has been summarized in this edition as a substantial appendix at the end of the chapters. Those seeking a detailed picture of the workings of the fascial system can wander happily through this organized re-working of what was Chapter 1 in previous editions. This appendix is heavily referenced for those who wish to delve more deeply beyond what we had space to include.
Additionally, we are very pleased to include in this edition an exploration of the myofascial continuities in the quadruped form – specifically horses and dogs – as devel-oped by Danish veterinarians.
The appendix that outlines our flagship protocol – the Anatomy Trains 12-series of Structural Integration – has been expanded to reflect our increasing experience with teaching this progression cross-culturally.

This edition benefits from updated and corrected artwork by Graeme Chambers, Debbie Maizels and Philip Wilson. We are also pleased to include some preliminary photo-graphs from the nascent Fascial Net Plastination Project, which is using the techniques pioneered by Gunther von Hagens in BodyWorlds to produce images that convey the beauty, intricacy, and ubiquity of the fascial system. We look forward to further revealing images and models from this approach.
The book is designed to allow rapid comprehension of the relevant concepts for a casual reader, or a detailed analy-sis for the curious. Thumb through to get the overall concept. Follow the illustrations and read their captions to be led through the story at an easily graspable level. Delve into the text – which is coded with icons for the varying interests of readers – for the more complete story.
Like most textbooks these days, this edition makes increasing use of electronic media. The text is studded with website addresses for further study, and our own website, www.anatomytrains.com, is being constantly updated. There are also references to the dozens of video programs we have produced to support professional application of the Anatomy Trains concepts.
The eBook on the accompanying website (and app) – www.expertconsult.com – provides access to many hours of goodies not otherwise available in a book format, including video clips from our technique, dissection, and visual assess-ment video programs, computer graphic representations of the Anatomy Trains, webinars, extra client photos for visual assessment practice, and other incidental videos of interest.
Both the understanding of the role of fascia and the implications and applications of Anatomy Trains are devel-oping rapidly. This new fourth edition, with its expanded connections to the web, ensures an up-to-date point of view on fascia, a largely missing element in movement study.

Thomas W. Myers
Clarks Cove, Maine, February 2020

Contents
Preface, vi
Preface to the First Edition, vii
Acknowledgments, ix
How to Use This Book, xi
Videos, xii
1 Laying the Railbed, 1
2 The Rules of the Road, 19
3 The Superficial Back Line, 29
4 The Superficial Front Line, 53
5 The Lateral Line, 73
6 The Spiral Line, 93
7 The Arm Lines, 113
8 The Functional Lines, 137
9 The Deep Front Line, 147
10 Anatomy Trains in Movement, 175
With contributions by James Earls and Karin Gurtner
11 BodyReading® – Structural Analysis, 219
Appendix 1 A Fascial Reader, 245
Appendix 2 A Note on the Meridians of Latitude: The Work of Dr Louis Schultz (1927–2007), 323
Appendix 3 Structural Integration, 327
Appendix 4 Myofascial Meridians and Asian Medicine, 339
Appendix 5 Anatomy Trains in Quadrupeds – Initial Investigations, 347 By Rikke Schultz, Tove Due and Vibeke Elbrønd
Anatomy Trains Terms, 355
Bibliography, e1
Index, 357