Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2009) 13, 53–62
27 aprile 2007
By Antonio Stecco, Veronica Macchi, Carla Stecco, Andrea Porzionato, Julie Ann Dayd, Vincent Delmase, Raffaele De Caro.
Abstract
Fifteen unembalmed cadavers were dissected in order to study the‘‘anatomical continuity’’ between the various muscles involved in the movement offlexion of the upper limb. This study demonstrated the existence of specificmyofascial expansions, with a nearly constant pattern, which originate from theflexor muscles and extend to the overlying fascia. The clavicular part of thepectoralis major sends a myofascial expansion, with a mean length of 3.6 cm, tothe anterior region of the brachial fascia, and the costal part sends one to themedial region of the brachial fascia (mean length: 6.8 cm). The biceps brachiipresents two expansions: the lacertus fibrosus, oriented medially, with a meanheight of 4.7 cm and a base of 1.9 cm, and a second, less evident, longitudinalexpansion (mean length: 4.5 cm, mean width: 0.7 cm). Lastly, the palmaris longussends an expansion to the fascia overlying the thenar muscles (mean length: 1.6 cm,mean width: 0.5 cm).During flexion, as these muscles contract, the anterior portion of the brachial andantebrachial fascia is subject to tension. As the fascia is rich in proprioceptive nerveendings, it is hypothesized that this tension activates a specific pattern of receptors,contributing to perception of motor direction. If the muscular fascia is in a nonphysiologicalstate, these mechanisms are altered, and the proprioceptors in thefascia may be incorrectly activated, thus giving rise to many types of extra-articularpain.
Full text at this link. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2007.04.009