This is the story of how I experienced how compensation works on myofascial meridians. And can be extremely painful!
The story
A few years ago I started dancing. Together with a friend. At the gym. We chose two dance classes: Zumba (Latino background) and Body Jam (Hip-Hop – Street Dance). With both the music turns on and you move for an hour. Great! Under the motivating shouts of very enthusiastic instructors, I started exercising 3 times a week. I started to move better and better, I could remember the steps better and I even started to have fun with it. The dancing itself could have been a little tighter (especially with Hip Hop) and I noticed that I was always half a second slower with my left side than with my right side. I attributed it to the fact that I am right handed and thought no more of it.
A certain Sunday it was Body Jam time again. After an intense workout with a lot of jumps and legwork, I went home tired, but satisfied. The next day I had some heavy legs, but I got through the day. Monday night I went to my Zumba class. It was also chalenging but great! I joked with the instructor that it was indeed hard work, but that I really liked it. I came home, looked at my phone while I was sitting on the couch and then it came: within 2 seconds my neck was stuck. Muscle pain left and right, continuous pain, sternum stuck and tight feeling. Nice. I took a shower, applied some tiger balm and went to sleep. Or at least try to sleep. The next day the pain continued and at the end of the day it even made me nauseous.
On the advice of a physiotherapist I had to take painkillers, keep my neck as warm as possible (tiger balm and scarf) and take it easy. On Wednesday morning the pain was less but I was not very happy yet. Yet I could still find the energy to give myself an acupressure treatment. I started to feel my right calf: nothing wrong, all structures were loose, when I started to feel my left calf it was completely stuck. *Aha moment*
The Myofascial Meridian Superficial Backline
Myofascial meridians are interconnected fascial structures that run throughout the body. They are lines through which the tension between the muscles (myo-) and the bones is distributed. They are present in both humans and horses. The Superficial Backline runs down the back of your calves and ends at your neck. Do you get it already?
In the picture on the right you can see where the fascia was stuck and where I finally felt the pain. The theory behind the myofascial meridians is described in Tom Myers' book, Anatomy Trains.
Fortunately, fascia has a fantastic property; with gentle sustained pressure, it changes from a gel to a liquid form (thixotropy). I went to extensively massage my left calf and loosen the fascia. It was tight, but the moment I felt an adhesion melt under my fingers, my chest suddenly got more room and I could breathe more freely. Every time I can dissolve an adhesion on my calf, my neck becomes less painful.
Compensation on myofascial meridians and lameness
Compensation arises when a certain structure in the body is restricted in its movement. It should move but it can't. The body has to keep moving and looks for a solution; load and move another structure to complete the movement. According to Tom Myers' theory, these offsets arise along the myofascial meridians. In my case, my left calf was prevented from moving and loaded the Superficial Backline. The combinations of two heavy workouts in a row meant that my body could no longer compensate and pain in the neck region developed. And no, I didn't feel anything during the workout. I was tired at the end, but nothing special.
If I had been a horse this would probably have turned into a story like: 'I don't get it: yesterday he was great in my riding lesson, this morning he is very lame'.
As a rider/owner, you don't always notice that something is going on. Horses are masters at hiding their pain. Or as in my case, the horse may not have felt anything at all.
Prevention is better than cure
Two signs that you should watch your horse for compensation:
- He does move well and makes great progress in training, but repeatedly makes the same mistake in a movement. Remember when my left side was slower than my right side? I am continuously putting more weight on the left. When I stand still, my right leg rests and I stand on the left with 100% of my weight. When I move, I also put more weight on the left, causing my left leg to move more slowly. Do you recognize this in your horse? Then it is advisable to keep an eye on him and have him treated.
- Feel your horse. Just like wanting to move your jeans over your leg. Light and on the surface. Put your hand on the horse and move the skin gently (!) in all directions. Do you feel that a certain side is less easy or that a certain zone moves less? Then there is a good chance that the fascia has adhered to that spot and that compensation can arise in the underlying structures. Treatment is also recommended here.
Unfortunately I now have to stay away from the gym and that really pisses me off… I was doing so well! Take it easy for a few days and then pick it up again. And schedule an appointment…
Do you want to know more about myofascial meridians? See my book: The Fascia Jungle Book