Myofascial slings are in body to Work together to transfer load through the lumbar and pelvic Area. As name says, Myofascial slings are made up of fascia, muscles and ligaments to provide stability and mobility.
Myofascial slings connect and function together to produce dynamic movement in the body. when the Myofascial slings are working efficiently, they also help us move better, produce more force, and create more speed. The body is a complex system made up of many of these anatomical slings.
Muscles are linked by a fascia within a specific myofascial sling to generate force that transfers load within the pelvis and lumbar spine. Research indicates that it can cause instability when there is a weak component in the sling, resulting in poor performance and injury.
In order to generate and sustain dynamic movement, different muscles and slings will overlap and interconnect. They provide optimum alignment of bones and joints to create movement while myofascial slings function in harmony.
By view of Physiotherapy, there are main four Myofascial slings are there which impacts majorly on entire human body movement.
- Anterior Oblique Myofascial Sling
- Posterior Oblique Myofascial Sling
- Deep Longitudinal Myofascial Sling
- Lateral Myofascial Sling
Anterior Oblique Myofascial Sling
AOS is made up of External oblique Muscle, internal oblique muscle connecting with opposite adductor via the abdominal fascia.
Functions of Anterior Oblique Sling
- Stability of the pubic symphysis, when the entire pelvic girdle is compressed.
- It also induces relative pelvis movement. Functionally, it helps to balance the body on top of the stationary leg while walking and to rotate the pelvis forward.
- For heel-strike, this is to position the pelvis and hip optimally.
- It helps to accelerate the body when running in sports such as tennis and soccer, but it also rotates and decelerates when changing direction.
Posterior Oblique Myofascial Sling
Posterior Oblique Sling is consists of the Latissimus dorsi, gluteus maximus connected by thoracolumbar fascia. It crosses the Sacro-lumbar junction.
The function of Posterior oblique sling
- Provide stability to the SIJ
- During single leg stance (gait) prevents excessive anterior rotation of the ilium and assists counter-rotation of the trunk.
- The propulsive phase of gait: glute med and latissimus dorsi contract causing tension of the TFL and stabilization of the SIJ and lumbar spine.
Deep Longitudinal Myofascial Sling
It is Made up of Erector spinae, multifidus, thoracolumbar fascia, sacrotuberous ligament, and biceps femoris (hamstring).
The function of Deep Longitudinal Sling
- Enables motion (forward and back) in the sagittal plane while preserving local stability. Balances the forces around the pelvis; Multifidus supports SIJ nutrition to establish equilibrium while providing a counter-nutation moment for biceps femoris and Sacro tuberous ligament.
- Therefore, according to what movement is being done, these muscles function together to provide sufficient stability.
Lateral Myofascial Sling
Lateral sling is made up of Gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, TFL and ITB. Covers the lateral aspect of the hip and knee joint.
The function of Lateral Sling
- In movements such as walking, lunging, running and ascending stairs, it makes movement in the coronal plane (side to side) and stabilizes the femur and pelvis.
- It helps keep the pelvis neutral in SLS or squats and keeps the knee aligned.
