Concept of a myofascial continuity, also known as a myofascial chain. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. Kinesiology - The Skeletal System and Muscle Function, 3rd ed. (Elsevier, 2017).

Intermuscular Force Transmission along a Myofascial Chain

There is a very simple exercise you can do to illustrate the continuity in the Superficial Back Line myofascial chain between gastrocnemius and hamstrings.

Michael Phelps and rounded shoulders and swimmer's shoulder.

Michael Phelps’ Forward Head Posture and Swimmer’s Shoulder

Swimmer’s shoulder can include several different pathologies, including rotator cuff tendinitis, shoulder instability, and shoulder impingement.

Figure 13. The Backward Stretch on the Ladder Barrel Pilates Apparatus Exercise. Permission Simona Cipriani. The Art of Control Pilates Studio, Stamford, CT, USA.

How Pilates Can Treat Thoracic Hyperkyphosis, also known as Rounded Back

When a client presents with thoracic hyperkyphosis (rounded back), there are many approaches for how Pilates can treat thoracic hyperkyphosis. And for each of these approaches, many Pilates exercises can be utilized. Before addressing these approaches, let’s briefly review thoracic hyperkyphosis…

body language and teaching

Body Language – From Commons Signs to Spotting Lies

Here is a fun exercise to help you practice your body language reading skills. Turn on a movie or tv show, but turn the sound off. It is amazing when there are no words to distract us, how much better we can read the body language and understand the feelings and emotions of the communication.

massage and blood circulation

Can Massage Increase Blood Circulation?

Regardless of the underlying mechanism, there seems to be a growing number of studies that do show a correlation between massage therapy and blood circulation. Although these studies at present seem to be inconsistent in their findings, the fact that many of them do show a causal relationship is encouraging.

workplace physical activity

Physical Activity Linked to Healthier and Longer Life, but Highly Physically Active Workers Die Early

When working, we place a demand on the body and the body responds by adapting to meet those demands. However, every tissue, has a limit to the mechanical stress that it can accept during physical activity without injury. It would seem likely that the demands of some professions are too great for the human body.

dancers and ACL injuries

Learning from Dancers to Prevent Non-Contact ACL Injuries

The authors suggested that experienced dancers demonstrate safer landing strategies compared to recreational athletes. Dance training experience may provide protection against high-risk movement patterns. And thus, dance training may be modeled to prevent ACL injuries.

Iliotibial Band. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. The Muscular System Manual - The Skeletal Muscles of the Human Body, 4th ed. (Elsevier 2017).

Differences in Knee and Hip Adduction in Runners with Iliotibial Band Syndrome

This study seems to show a relationship between iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome and knee adduction (genu varum) and the activation of the TFL. A relationship can be two incidents that occur together, termed a “coincidence.” Or there can be a causal relationship between them; i.e., one causes the other to occur.

Genu Knee Valgus

Decreased Ankle Dorsiflexion is Associated with Dynamic Knee Valgus

A proposed biomechanical explanation is that restricted ankle joint dorsiflexion directly results in overpronation of the foot, which causes internal rotation of the lower extremity, which strains the external/abductor musculature, which can then no longer prevent femoral adduction; hence genu valgus.

Tight hip abductor and/or adductor musculature can change the frontal plane posture of the pelvis, resulting in a scoliosis. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. Kinesiology - The Skeletal System and Muscle Function, 3ed (Elsevier, 2017)

How Can Tight Muscles of the Hip Joint Cause a Scoliosis?

So, if hip abductor group on one side is tighter at baseline tone than the hip adductor group on that side, the pelvis will be pulled into depression on that side, resulting in a lumbar scoliosis that is convex on that side. Similarly, tight opposite-side hip adductor musculature can cause the same scoliotic curve.

backpack and adolescent back pain article by Joseph Muscolino.

Does Carrying a Backpack Cause Back Pain in Adolescents?

And perhaps the biggest problem I have with this study about backpacks and adolescent back pain is that an overuse syndrome usually does NOT cause pain in the early stages. When the body is physically stressed by something like carrying a backpack, it often requires many years before the overuse results in pain.

Upper and Lower Crossed Syndromes. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. Artwork: Giovanni Rimasti.

Thoracic Hyperkyphosis – The Critical Component of Upper Crossed Syndrome

For most of our clients who present with the postural distortion pattern known as upper crossed syndrome, it is important, perhaps absolutely necessary, to include thoracic spinal joint mobilization technique into extension as part of the treatment plan to address the thoracic hyperkyphosis.

Back Postures. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. Manual Therapy for the Low Back and Pelvis - A Clinical Orthopedic Approach (2013).

Deep Pressure Massage to the Low Back – Use Body Weight

An excellent demonstration of the force that can be generated by using body weight is to lean down onto a bathroom weight scale that is placed on a table that is positioned as various heights. Simply relax and lean into the scale with your body weight and notice the force that you generate.