Rethinking The Organization of Muscles

Why Thinking Beyond Individual Muscles Can Help You Move and Feel Better

Have you ever had a persistent ache or stiffness that just wouldn’t go away, even after stretching or massaging the area? The problem might not be in that specific muscle itself—but in how it’s connected to the rest of your body including other muscles! Instead of thinking about muscles in isolation, another approach focuses on myochains. What are myochains? They are long, interconnected lines of muscle and fascia (connective tissue) that influence movement, posture, and pain.

What Are Myochains, and Why Do They Matter?

Traditionally, we’ve been taught to think of pain, tightness, or dysfunction as a problem with a single muscle. But in reality, our muscles don’t work alone. They are part of myochains, which help distribute tension and movement throughout the body.  Muscles do not just work individually but rather in an interconnected system.

A well-known expert in this field, Tom Myers, introduced the concept of myofascial meridians, or myochains, to describe these connections. Here are a few key examples but by no means is this an exhaustive list.

• Lateral Line – Runs along the sides of the body, affecting balance and stability. To learn more go to this free open resource. 

 

• Superficial Posterior Line – Stretches from your feet up the back, influencing posture and flexibility.
• Crossed Oblique Line – Connects opposite shoulders and hips, playing a big role in twisting movements like walking and running.

To learn more about Tom Myers’ work and myochains, visit Anatomy Trains.

Why Treating a Single Muscle Isn’t Enough

Many traditional approaches focus on treating a single painful muscle. The problem? If the root cause is in a myochain, working on just one muscle won’t fully resolve the issue. That’s where Fascial Counterstrain comes in.

Fascial Counterstrain is a hands-on therapy that identifies and releases tension patterns in entire myochains (and other structures)—not just individual muscles. This technique helps restore mobility, improve posture, and relieve pain more effectively than isolated treatments.

How Myochain Therapy Can Help You

Fascial Counterstrain is particularly effective for releasing these chains efficiently and effectively to help with proper biomechanics and more.

Some issues include:

• Shoulder, Neck, Back, and Hip Pain/Stiffness – Releasing myochains improves movement and reduces discomfort at individual joints, the spine and anywhere the myochain might be.
• Postural issues – Addressing full-body patterns helps realign your spine and reduce strain.
• Limited range of motion (ROM) – Improving flexibility and reducing restrictions in connected tissues.
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) – Relieving nerve compression by easing tension in the fascial lines.
• Baker’s Cyst (behind the knee swelling) – Reducing strain on the knee by addressing myochain imbalances.
• Axillary Web Syndrome (cording after surgery) – Helping restore arm movement and lymphatic flow.

A Holistic Approach to Pain and Movement

When we stop thinking about muscles in isolation and start looking at the body as an interconnected system, we see better, longer-lasting results. If you’re struggling with chronic pain, tightness, or limited movement, Fascial Counterstrain may be the missing piece in your recovery.

Curious to learn more? Book a session and experience the difference for yourself!