Fascial+Bands

"besides individual variations in contour, there are also patterns that are more or less common to all bodies. These patterns appear as straps - bands that we see running horizontally around the body, almost like retaining belts holding in the soft tissue. These are relatively independent of the muscle anatomy of the body. They are unexpected and unexplained, but they are visible soft tissue structures"

The telltale sign of the presence of a strap is a flattening or depression running horizontally through the body surface. It may be continuous or interrupted - like a dotted line. It is not a structure per se. It is a local change in the balance between fiber and matrix organizaion within the total connective tissue bed

How? 1) challenges of growing up - we grow successive connective tissue layers to cushion and protect ourselves from the irritation. May be physical or emotional in origin. Desire to hide, hold down or CONTROL.

The pubic band
In front can be seen in dense pad of connective tissue on surface of the pubic bone. Continues sideways around the body crossing the groin The inguinal ligament (diagonal) connects ASIS to lateral pubic bone which is crossed by the groin band. Continues over greater trochanter mixing with fat buildup and fibrous tissue often found here. Posteriorly runs deep to lower border of glut maximus ending at junction of sacrum and coccyx. Contributes and sometimes forms the gluteal fold. Blends into the heavy pad found in the ischeal tuberosities (sit bone) Strong cross pulls are assoc. with this band. In center front there is vertical band between ribcage and pubic crest (rectus abdominus & connective tissue). Obliques also cross pulls. Some fibers run deep to hip joint rather than across outer surface and can alter how femur fits in hip socket. Parts of the strap exist as "V" shape thickening in inside of the legs, along the pubic ramus. Part goes around and part goes between the legs. Pelvis and urogenital diaphragms are cross structures and internal extension of the strap is continuous with connective tissue of both and by extension musculature of the rectum, urethra and vagina. Injury to tailbone can have significant effects on the body as it is the end of the support of the pelvic floor and guides direction of the sacrum/spine. Spine compensates with flexion, extension, rotation. Where the pubic strap tightens down it reduces flexibility and fixes coccyx in place

The inguinal band
- the "chastity belt". Connection between the ASIS'. The strap crossed the lower rectus abdominis. Broadens across the lower abdomen and in many people also includes fat deposits that extend deep into the pelvis, filling the pelvic bowl. The belly that won't go away often has little to do with diet and is rather a constriction between the chest and inguinal/groin band. Continues around side of the hips, seems to cross just below the iliac crest. Pulls across the back of the upper pelvis and sacrum giving rise to tendon-like structures along the lower back (feels like ropes or cables) Assoc. with want/need to control pelvic movement. Blends into fascial or fatty pad normally on sacrum. Continues down to tailbone. Bottom part extends down between legs to V-shaped bony base of pelvis Connective tissue of the psoas extends from inside lower back to lesser trochanter. The superficial and deep fascial planes balance eachother. Tightness in one is reflected in the other. In men both sexual function and feelings about castration are connected to this band. In women often located deeper in lower abdomen, shelving under ovaries and functionally separating ovaries from genitals. Rises in back sometimes as high as 12th rib where it meshes with fascia along the spine Often shows up in the breathing pattern - breath only goes down as far as the band rather than to bottom of pelvis

Two patterns: 1) lower belly is held in - back becomes taut and upper belly bulges. 2) person who tightens area between lower margin of rib cage and the belly button - upper abdomen become tight and area below belly button protrudes.

The umbilical band
Variable in its position relative to the navel. Can run just under the small cartilage at bottom of the sternum/xiphoid process; directly across the navel or across the abdomen an inch or so below the navel. Continues toward the sides, usually a little below the arch of the ribs bothinside and outside the ribs usually pulling the free ends of the ribs deep inside he body. May press on lateral diaphragm. Continues to back via 12th rib into the lumbro-dorsal junction often immobilizing the free tips of ribs 10 & 11 Ribs 10, 11, 12 attache to the diaphragm and establish width and range of movement. Tightness results in a diaphragm that is functionally and structurally too narrow and thus overworked. Breathing is more labored and diaphragm begins to act as a retaining shelf across the body. Extreme version is known as "pigeon breast"

The chest band
- horizontal depression in mid chest, just below the nipples. junction of the upper insertion of the rectus abdominus and lower insertion of the pectoralis major. Back extension is slightly higher and seems to be the dorsal hinge between T5 and T6 or T6 and T7. In front starts about an inch above the lower tip of the sternum. shoulders get raised as chest sinks down, head comes forward

**Muscles:**

 * superficially -** rectus abdominis, pectoralis major (their connective tissue forms a continuous, segmented web, allowing the movement of one muscles to be reflected into the other), upper margin of latissimus dorsi (adjacent insertion to pec major and control openness of the armpit), crosses lower tip of scapula. Forms a "Y" in the front (rectus abd -> pect. major) and a "V" in the back (inferior lat. dorsi)
 * Deep-** underlying ribs and intercostal muscles

The collar band
Involves primarily the base of the throat, upper tip of the lungs and upper margin of the shoulders. When very tight it's most striking as tightness under the Adam's apple there the clavicles meet the sternum. Most common result is compression around base of the neck. Deep hollows at the base of the neck just behind the clavicle are evidence this is too tight. In front encloses the length of the clavicle and the upper 2 ribs as well as the subclavius. This conects the middle of the clavicle to the top ribs and continues as ligaments to the sternum and coracoid process. When the fascia covering of subcalvius is thickened it immobilizes between the bones inhibiting respiration. Continues to acromiun over the topmost part of the humerus. When there is a heavy pad on top of the acromion any movement is inhibited between the clavicle and scapula and acts as a brake to lateral movement of the arm. Continues toward the back along inner and outer margin of the scapula and spreads out over the area of dowager's hump (upper medial tip of scapula to cervicothoracic junction. Tightest part binds the clavicle and upper scapula. Looser extensions broaden it's influence out into the upper part of the arm pulling it closer to the body and rotating it slightly out of socket. Fibers go into armpit to close armpit and compress upper ribs. Goes deep as well to create a shelf through the body that can be seen - Crosses over the often hollow spot on the base of neck w/ scalenes. Underside of the scalenes often has fascial connections to tip of the lungs Two movement patterns reinforce tightness - compressing armpits (because of ticklishness, habitual anxiety, protecting breasts, etc.) and hunching the shoulders(d/t perpetual anxiety, "carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders" Sometimes can not be very visible but feels like a very tight band almost at the bone level SCM acts as a vertical connection between collar and chin straps. Can affect voice, singing, ability to play wind instruments Interacts with the chest strap via the pectoralis major

The chin band
Related to the junction of the head with the first two vertebrae of the neck. Junction of the occiput with the atlas and axis. Surrounds and binds down the hyoid which is the keystone between the sternum and angle of the jaw. When the strap muscles of the throat are overly tense it tugs the hyoid downward and is seen as a double chin. Continues from the hyoid and under chin in upward path across angle of the jaw just below the ear. when really tense can immobilize the jaw. Continuation of band thickens around the mastoid process behind and below the ear and goes to restrict the junction between the occiput, atlas and axis. Nodding becomes and effort. Junction of the skull and first 2 vertebrae is covered by heavy fascial pad about an inch thick. Extreme tension at back of the head pushes the skull bones too far forward over the neck bones, giving appearance of a very flat back of the head. Band contracts and distorts the position of the hyoid which generalizes tension into the back of the tongue. The condition of the esophagus and trachea is under the influence of these tensions. Voice students try to release these.

The eye band
Goes right across the eyes like a mask. Tension of the strap generalizes to the small bones centering at the eyes and back through the skull at eye level. Areas indirectly affected: brainstem, limbic system, pituitary and pineal gland. Roughly across the eyes and above the ears. In back at about the main junction of bones of the skull. Starting at front midline crosses muscles of the bridge of the nose, circular muscles around the eye sockets, upper muscles that let you wiggle your ears, temporalis muscle and it's fascia connecting to the jaw. Composed of several bones: upper portion - frontal bone; medial portion - lacrimal and ethmoid bones; lower portion - maxilla; laterally - zygomatic bone; posteriorly - sphenoid bone. Tension across the eye orbit can result in narrowing of the entire facial region. The topmost band relates to the lambda (at posterior fontanelle) while not an obvious flexure of the body, embryologiccally it is the first flexure of the body. The sphenoid and the pelvis move in concert and reciprocally. If one doesn't move the other is inhibited. The pituitary lies in the center indention.

From "The Endless Web - Fascial anatomy and physical realty" By R. Louis Shultz, PhD