The Circle of Release: Exploring Circumduction in Myofascial Therapy
Updated: Oct 14
Lately, I've received several inquiries regarding my frequent use of circumduction in my myofascial release procedures. This blog post aims to address those questions.
Circumduction, from a biomechanical perspective, is a complex, compound motion involving a series of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction movements that allows not only joints but also myofascial structures to traverse in a circular pattern, engaging multiple planes of motion.
Manual therapies, such as Motion Specific Release (MSR), involve a range of techniques where a practitioner applies hands-on pressure to manipulate the fascia and underlying soft tissues and joints. The goal is to relieve tension, reduce pain, and improve mobility by restoring proper alignment and function to the body's structures.
When considering the use of circumduction movements in manual therapy, it's helpful to understand the biomechanics of fascia. Fascia is a three-dimensional, continuous network of connective tissue that extends throughout the body. It has both elastic and viscoelastic properties, meaning it can change shape under force but return to its original shape once the force is removed.
As we have mentioned, circumduction movements involve moving a joint (or soft tissue) in a circular motion. When applied during manual therapy, these movements can help to mobilize fascia (and joints) in multiple directions due to the complex, multidirectional arrangement of the fascial network.
The Power of Circumduction
From a biomechanical perspective, here are a few reasons why circumduction might be especially effective for releasing myofascial restrictions:
Multidirectional Stresses
Employing circumduction movements introduces multidirectional mechanical stresses to the fascial continuum. This application of forces along varying vectors assists in elongating and mobilizing potentially constricted or adhered fascial fibers, effectively enhancing the viscoelasticity of the fascial matrix. Consequently, this could facilitate improved interstitial fluid dynamics, contributing to a more optimized fascial environment.
Promoting Hydration:
Implementing circumduction movements may potentially improve fascial fluid dynamics, facilitating a more robust hydration state within the fascial matrix. A fascial network imbued with optimal hydration exhibits increased suppleness and elasticity, thereby reducing the propensity for fascial restrictions and improving overall biomechanical performance.
Neurophysiological Effects:
Consideration must also be given to the possible neurophysiological impacts elicited by circumduction maneuvers. The systematic application of pressure and movement inherent to circumduction exercises can instigate mechanotransduction within the tissue matrix. This process, triggered by the stimulation of mechanoreceptors, might contribute to the modulation of nociceptive (pain) signals and facilitate muscle relaxation, promoting an overall enhancement in neuromuscular coordination and function.
Creating a Shear Force:
Circumduction maneuvers can produce shear stress, characterized by a lateral or tangential force, within the fascial network. This mechanical stimulus can facilitate the dissociation of cross-linked collagen fibrils, a process critical for resolving fascial restrictions and alleviating tissue stiffness. The strategic introduction of shear forces thus promotes healthier biomechanical properties and improves the functional integrity of the fascial matrix.
Engaging the Whole Fascial Chain:
Given the body's fascial system operates as an interconnected continuum, a localized restriction can exert a ripple effect, influencing distant body regions. Circumduction movements allow comprehensive myofascial chains to engage, thereby providing a more system-wide therapeutic intervention. This engagement echoes the principles of global biomechanics, acknowledging the far-reaching implications of localized dysfunction within the expansive network of fascial continuity.
Conclusion
The power of circumduction movements in Motion Specific Release (MSR) lies in their ability to create multidirectional mechanical stresses that promote fascial elongation and mobility. This enhancement of the tissue's viscoelastic properties supports healthier fluid dynamics, fostering a well-hydrated and supple fascial environment.
Some key benefits of circumduction include:
Neurophysiological Advantages: Circumduction stimulates mechanotransduction, modulating nociceptive signals and fostering muscle relaxation. This contributes to an overall enhancement in neuromuscular coordination and functionality.
Resolution of Fascial Restrictions: The shear stress generated by circumduction movements assists in separating cross-linked collagen fibrils, a critical process in resolving fascial restrictions and mitigating tissue stiffness.
System-Wide Therapeutic Intervention: The ability of circumduction to engage entire myofascial chains ensures a system-wide therapeutic intervention in line with MSR's comprehensive treatment philosophy.
The integration of circumduction within MSR is rooted in its encompassing, multidirectional strategy and its noteworthy benefits. Given our understanding of how localized dysfunction reverberates through the interconnected fascial network, circumduction is an invaluable tool for reinstating biomechanical equilibrium. While it's essential to acknowledge that further research will expand and refine our understanding of fascial biomechanics, the utility of circumduction based on current knowledge cannot be overstated.
DR. BRIAN ABELSON DC. - The Author
Dr. Brian Abelson is a chiropractor, author, and educator with more than 30 years of clinical experience in musculoskeletal care, rehabilitation, and sports performance. His educational work focuses on musculoskeletal conditions, human movement, sports biomechanics, and evidence-informed approaches to treatment and rehabilitation.
He is the developer of Motion Specific Release (MSR) and Clinical Director of Kinetic Health in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
References
Schleip, R., Findley, T. W., Chaitow, L., & Huijing, P. (2013). Fascia: The tensional network of the human body: The science and clinical applications in manual and movement therapy. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Myers, T. W. (2001). Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists. Churchill Livingstone.
Tozzi, P. (2015). Fascial Release for Structural Balance. North Atlantic Books.
Ingber, D. E. (2008). Tensegrity-based mechanosensing from macro to micro. Progress in biophysics and molecular biology, 97(2-3), 163-179.
Chaitow, L. (2014). Muscle Energy Techniques. Churchill Livingstone.
Stecco, C., & Hammer, W. I. (2018). Functional Atlas of the Human Fascial System. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Bordoni, B., & Zanier, E. (2015). Anatomic connections of the diaphragm: influence of respiration on the body system. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 8, 281.
Huijing, P. A., & Baan, G. C. (2001). Myofascial force transmission: muscle relative position and length determine agonist and synergist muscle force. Journal of applied physiology, 94(3), 1092-1107
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