The Central Nervous System controls and directs all movement. The CNS
calls for patterns of movement that can be modified in countless ways to react
appropriately to gravity, ground reaction forces, and momentum. Each activity
is further refined and adjusted by feedback from the body’s proprioceptors.
This process ensures optimal neuromuscular control and efficiency of movement. Movement
does not occur in the anatomical position. Movement occurs in reaction to
gravity, ground reaction forces, and momentum. Movement is not an isolated
event that occurs in one plane of motion; it involves synergists, stabilizers,
neutralizers, and antagonists all working together to reproduce efficient
triplanar movements.
3 Comments
Larry Steinbeck
I would have agreed with you completely until I started reading the work of the Stecco group in Italy and their research in to the role of fascia in managing task dependent movements. Huijing has published on the role of fascia in coordination and proprioception. In the most recent book by Stecco they reference Smeulders who states that 37% of muscular force is transmitted not only to tendon insertions but also to adjacent structures.”Given that muscular insertions onto septa and fascia develope considerably minor force as compared to insertions onto bone, the question arises as to why the body ‘needlessly’ disperses such a significant quantity of energy.” They hypothesize that the continuity of myofascial units and segments are responsible for coordinated movements. It’s a good, in depth read and I am not doing it justice, but they give a plausible, evidence based view on why the CNS can’t do it all and is dependent on a well functioning myofascial system.
Vern Gambetta
So why does this negate training movements? I am fully on board with the fascia research, in fact I refer to it in my book, but the nervous system and the brain still are the command and control mechanism. Would be interested in the exact reference to the work you refer to. Thanks for the comment.
Larry Steinbeck
See: “Fascial Manipulation for Musculoskeletal Pain by Luigi Stecco 2004 Piccin Publishing and Fascial Manipulation:Practical Part by Stecco and Stecco 2009 Piccin Publishing. They have published in English,primarily in Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (not peer reviewed) and foreign language Morphologie.