Appoggio and muscle chains
Physiological chains
Physiological chains are anatomical circuits through which the body’s organisational forces spread.
There are two types of chains :
Dynamic chains : muscle
1 - Flexor muscle chains
2 - Extensor muscle chains
3 – Open crossed muscle chains
4 – Closed crossed muscle chains
Stability chains : connective tissue
5 – Muscular skeleton stability chain
6 – Neurovascular stability chain
7 – Visceral stability chain
We will have to deal more with the dynamics chains, than the stability chains.
Thus in the following pages I give some anatomical informations on these chains.
Summary of the main functions of dynamic chains
Flexor chains and extensor chains
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Flexor chains, and extensor chains are involved in all the movements of extension and flexion. On a psychological level, it correspond to the extroversion and introversion functions.
The crossed chains
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The diagonal chains facilitate torsion of the trunk.
The anterior diagonal chains cause a forward torsion, and the posterior ones a backward torsion.
When both ventral diagonal chains dominate, the shoulders and both iliac bones are pulled forward medially. Both dorsal diagonal chains pull the shoulders and iliac bones backward. In the lower extremities, they have a similar effect.
The dorsal diagonal chains cause abduction and external rotation in the leg, while the anterior diagonal chains cause adduction and internal rotation of the legs.
The balance equation
Axe is connected to respiration, and respiration to dynamic
Every dynamics chains are closely linked to the respiratory function.
The extension and opening chains are related to the inhalation, and the flexion and closing chains are related to exhalation.
Correspondingly, the vertical stance of the body dépends on fluid antagonism of the dynamic chains ; the deviation in alignment are caused by local stiffness in muscle chains, and also in visceral content.
Thus, it is not exagerated to consider that axe, respiration, and dynamique of the body are indeed three aspects of a centralized function intimately connected to the emotionnal affects.
I cannot resist the temptation to risk an interpretation of the Caducéee as a symbol of this centralized fonction : The snakes symbolise the dynamic chains, the wings represent the respiration, and the sceptre means the spine, and more extensively the alignment of all the body in the plumb line.