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Much of Myofascial Release is about landscape. I look at posture to see deviations from mid line. I palpate tissue quality to determine tightness or restriction. I move into the rib cage to feel for areas
that lack movement. These rib issues are what I want to address today.


Working into the osseous structures has always interested me. When learning this work, I felt that I had an adequate number of techniques to address rib cage tightness, but it was only through years of
experimenting and noting the outcome that I learned the value of
treating the rib cage.This is where landscape becomes important.


Think of the ways we treat those scapular or rhomboid knots that clients complain of. Treatments or modalities of all sorts may give some relief, but the pain returns. When was the last time you looked at and
felt the landscape of the thoracic ribs?


In an ideal world, we are born with a landscape where the posterior rib cage gradually eases from shoulders to the lower trunk with a smooth, gradual sweep. There are no sharp peaks or valleys. With your
client face down, you can view this while standing at their head. Global
pressure into this area provides feedback of an equal give, all ribs
and soft tissue flexing inward until you gradually reach the barrier.
The thoracic spine matches this, with a smooth undulation toward the
table. The scapula glides over this landscape in response to motion of
the arm. The underside of the scapula finds no resitance from the smooth
landscape underneath.


But, with normal or abnormal postural asymmetry, injury, scoliosis, or trauma, the rib cage often assumes a more craggy appearance, one where the landscape is interrupted by peaks or valleys of apparent tight
ribs. The thoracic spine does not give equally to your pressure. The
underside of the scapula is constantly irritated by the raised ribs,
causing spams. The asymmetrical rib tension can force a rib head to
misaligned at its junction with the spine.


Instead of staying on the surface and working the muscle or superficial fascia, move deeper into the rib cage. Engage the fascia and musculature of the intercostal regions. You most certainly will need to
address pelvic torsions and tensions, but do not forget the landscape.


Walt Fritz, PT

www.MyofascialResource.com

Views: 88

Replies to This Discussion

Hi Walt . . what a poetic description of palpatory experience! Additionally, in the same way that the ASIS and PSIS are anchors for lumbar fascia, the ribcage has archipelagoes that assist in securing fine fascial elements and assist tensegrity. An umbrella with its fabric-covered ribs is an apt analogy, (and incidentally useful when traversing wet landscapes). Thank you for diverting my attention from what I really should be doing . . .Cheers P
Chris,
I agree fully, the possibilities for movement in this area are endless. As are the possibilities for dysfunction.

Peter,
I appreciate your umbrella analogy, and will use it often! It will allow the landscape example to be more accessible for the client.

I do believe that fuller appreciation of the ribcage allows us to transcend boundaries between chiropractic, massage, and PT. and make broader changes in medical health as well.

Walt Fritz, PT
www.MyofascialResource.com
Hi Walt, great that you raise this for discussion. :)

To many spinal courses with too much focus on the cervicle and Lumber region (where the pain is) when if more focus was placed on achieving full thoracic freedom, cervicle and lumber probs disappear.

As you say those raised ribs cause no end of trouble for overlying muscles (nerves and blood vessels too !). My favourite areas are serratus posterior superior and Inferior. Ribs will move back into place with a gentle sustained pressure.

With Thoracic outlet syndrome (neurogenic), switching off an overactive scalene group then tractioning the first rib can produce immediate results and may ultimately stop the client from seeking radical surgery.
Stephen,

I concur that gentle sustained pressure is often all that is needed to level the landscape. Working with the 1st and 2nd ribs both superiorly and posteriorly in a variety of ways has been quite powerful and is something I teach in my intro classes now.

Walt Fritz, PT
www.MyofascialResource.com
Hi Walt,
great article, I so love spending time in the rib cage, its such an amazing part of the body, how it moves and when it doesn't! I imagine being on the table right now, having someone get in there and stroll the landscape!

take care
Antonia Nelson
Hi Antonia,

Nice to hear from you! I really think that most MFR teachers do a disservice to the thorax and rib cage. While technique is certainly taught, the depth of work and potential is much greater than the time it is often given.

Walt Fritz, PT
www.MyofascialResource.com

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