Soft Tissue Mobilization/Myofascial Release/Massage Lab

Layers 1-4 (Depth)

Skin & Superficial fascia:
Hand/fingers parallel to skin
Fascia/muscle interface:
Fingers angled downward ~30
degrees
Muscle layer:
Fingers angled downward ~60
degrees
Muscle/bone interface: Fingers perpendicular to skin
Direction
Fascial clocks:
o At each layer, assess end-feel of soft tissue along each
direction of a clock face.
o **Excursion will be different for different areas of the body
and for different people. End-feel is most important
should always be springy.**
Location
Start
o
o
o

broadlocalize
Use whole hand/both hands to assess a general area.
Feel where under one hand an area feels most restricted.
Try to localize most restricted location and direction to one
or two fingers, if possible. This is likely the key to releasing
other areas.
o Once the most restricted area has been released,
secondary areas of restriction may become more apparent.
Repeat same procedure as above to localize and release
secondary areas.

Physiological Muscle Excursion vs. Accessory Muscle Play

Physiological excursion assessed along line of pull. Muscle must
be able to lengthen and shorten for normal movement to occur.
Muscle bending perpendicular to line of pull = accessory motion