Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists

This is my second purchase of this book. I bought it to give to my physical therapist. I'm repeating my first review under my new account. Wow! I thought I'd ordered the wrong book for my needs, which are 1.more knowledge of the process of myofascial release and 2. more understanding of places/points of anatomy. It has been a long while since I've been in school and a long time since I worked at a top teaching hospital in the Bay area in California. I read a few paragraphs, taking care not to damage the book, because I thought I'd probably return it. HOWEVER, after a few sentences I was immediately caught up in the beauty and clarity of this work. NEVER has physiology been made so interesting. Finally, I understand so many things that were just a jumble of memorized facts in preparation for exams. This book has rekindled my love of physiology and is even undoing my dislike of anatomy. Anatomy didn't make sense to me - it was boring - it was memorization. Now I am understanding why my body is so damaged from the stresses I subject it to, but better, I understand how I can undo some damage and prevent more. I worked on a Sports Medicine unit where famous athletes came for surgery. So much surgery can be avoided with corrective measures for chronic stressors. The medical community needs to be aware of this important material. So bravo for such a readable work. What depth of historial findings, beautiful graphics, excellent grammar and text. I feel as though I'm in school again, but this time it is for pleasure and for pain relief. After a few pages I tried to find out more about the author and was surprised not to see a Ph.D. by his name, although I'm not sure a Ph.D. makes one any wiser. I totally concur with the first review. Don't buy this book if you are looking for a simple, trendy approach to bodywork. This is so much more.

In this handbook, Tom Myers and company have clearly and concisely illustrated a vital paradigm of functional myofascial anatomy. Starting with an updated review of the histological properties of the extracellular matrix, then building upon the embryological development and arrangement of the fascial envelopes which create continuous compartments of the body's regions, he demonstrates on the accompanying DVD the actual anatomical dissections of the slings of muscles, tendons and fascia that comprise the various Anatomy Trains. The authors have also included discussions of kinesiolgic functions, manual therapy techniques, and yoga and exercises specific to the described myofascial meridians. The information and illustrations make anatomy easy to understand, and shed a new light on postural evaluation. As a practicing chiropractor who has used myofascial therapies such as PIR, ART, trigger point therapy and strain-counter strain techniques, this new information has provided me with a system to more accurately assess spinal and extremity articular dysfunction according to the patterns of myofascial stress in the anatomy trains. I now incorporate this holistic myofascial analysis as a primary evaluation tool for my chiropractic adjustments.

Those of us in the physical therapy, personal and performance training, coaching, strength and conditioning, and other physical activity related fields know the importance of continuing education, and Anatomy Trains provides a refreshing look at how things actually work in comparison to half-of-the-story as provided by most text books. Anatomy is taught in isolated motion. No one moves strictly in isolated motion in anything pertaining to every day life. This book provides the theory as well as dissection evidence to give credibility to the arguement that those of us in our field need to be more open minded to treatment outside the realm of strict anatomical interpretation. The problem there lies more in America's fixation with treating the problem, but not addressing the cause. Its not just the professional's fault for this, but the client's uneducation or miseducation. When a client comes in to get a massage because they're back is tight, a massage therapist treats the back. It doesn't matter if the cause is actually a tight lower SFL causing anterior pelvic tilt then causing compensation in the SBL for the back pain; the back is still what the professional treats. Most of the time, it isn't the professional's fault for not knowing; it isn't taught in most schools. Anatomy Trains is a great tool to show the benefits of progressive thought and prehab to prevent injuries in our clients and do a better job. Knowing how to fix is what we know, but knowing how to prevent is what we SHOULD know.

This book is definitely a keeper. I paid over $100 for the second edition instead of buying the 3rd edition at like a third of the price. The reasoning was that upon researching I found that the 3rd edition wants you to juggle between the book and their website to look at pictures and references. If I buy a book, I wanted everything I need IN THE BOOK! That's why I'm buying a book. Regardless, this book is a tough read. The average person, like myself, will struggle to sit down and read it. If you are adept in the language of medical students you may not have any issue, but I'm just an enthusiast. This book will give you a different outlook on how the body works as far as how muscles and tendons are connected, if you haven't been exposed to these things already. I was recommended this book by a massage therapist, which I am also not, and I am happy to add this to my collection. I struggle with muscular dysfunction due to poor training programs and extended periods of sitting, so I'm always trying to learn new things to be a better version of myself.

It says in the beginning of the book that the general theory behind this book hasn't really been scientifically verified and that it is more of a hypothesis right now. After reading the book I am sold on it. Even if it isn't completely accurate(I have yet to find anything that isn't) it is a very useful way of looking at the human body. This is a must read for Physical Therapists, Personal Trainers, Massage Therapists or anyone who needs a road map of how muscles play on each other. Because this particular area of study is a work in progress, I'd also check to see if there is a new edition out. The book itself is pricey and it reads like an undergrad textbook but I'd still recommend it.

I am always happy when I order a product "like new" or "excellent" condition and it arrives and when I open it it's as if I am the first person to every lay hands on the product! The DVD included looked as if no one had even seen it. The pages were clean and just perfect. Anyone who has interest in the fascial lines and Tom Myers' concept should definitely have this book in their library! Great information and illustrations. There are references to a DVD of his you have to buy separately but it is well worth the money for any massage or physical therapist. Love love love!

Easy to learn anatomy with this; the illustrations are plentiful and informative. Highly recommended!

This book was used in a Functional Anatomy and Physiology class I took recently at Alive & Well! School of Conscious Bodywork. I was amazed at how Thomas Myers' has been able to lay out the "webbing" of related muscles in the body and to see that everything really is connected through this fascial web. As a massage practitioner, it makes my job that much easier to understand where someone might be experiencing pain from a tightness in a whole different part of the body and give them relief. Highly recommended read and reference manual for anyone doing bodywork.

Dieses Buch ist das Standardwerk schlechthin betreffende miofaziale Strukturen. Faszinierend, und fabelhaft erklärt. Es war ein stolzen Eckpunkt in meine Bibliothek. Bis ich es meinen Freundin schenkte als wir uns trennten. Ich hoffe sie lernt dass was sie lernen kann aus diesem tollen Buch.

Chaînes myofasciales, Rolfing, Fasciathérapies, modèle de tenségrité... Pour ceux que ces mots intéressent ou interpellent, ce livre donne des clés de compréhension. Bon il n'existe pas en français, mais les illustrations sont très claires, ça aide.

Great information in this book

This book was great for me as a chiropractic student to understand that all the fascia-layers are actually just part of a complete system. And that they do have an essential role in the problems i will bee seeing in the future. Haven't checked out the CD yet, but I'm guessing thats a good addition :D

voilà longtemps que je cherche à relier les méridiens chinois à l'anatomie. voici enfin une approche sérieuse et bien plus convaincante (à mon gout) que les chaines musculaires de Busquet. à découvrir d'urgence!