The Muscular Chains

A number of concepts in Natural Motor Preferences® are the functional counterpart of the anatomical notions developed by Godelieve Denys-Struyf (GDS) in his book "Les Chaines Musculaires et Articulaires". It is therefore interesting to devote an article to this subject.

Before entering the heart of the matter, I propose a small and simple definition of the muscular chain. I will use the definition of Françoise Mézières: a set of muscles in the same direction whose insertions overlap each other like tiles on a roof.

The Mézières method

Françoise Mézières is the founder of the Mézières method. For this physiotherapist, the excessive tension of the posterior chain (especially in the back) is the main cause of many disorders. She used the analogy with an accordion to explain how the narrowing of the spine forced the vertebrae to lordosis, kyphosis and scoliosis in order to escape the muscular pressure. Mézières had therefore developed several techniques for stretching and relaxing the posterior muscles. These techniques are the great strength of the Mézières method which, in addition to its theoretical corpus, provides practical care tools. It is interesting to note that according to the IMP, the protective tendon reflex, a life reflex causing an over tension of the posterior chain, is treated by stretching and massaging the posterior chain from the arch of the foot to the cervical muscles.

Before creating her own approach, Godelieve Denys-Struyf studied for a long time the other " schools " related to the muscular chains. She published a book entitled « Guide pratique et adaptations pour l’utilisation de la méthode de Mademoiselle Françoise Mézières ».

The GDS method

Initially a painter specialised in portraits, Godelieve Denys-Struyf studied physiotherapy at a later stage. Throughout her career as a physiotherapist and teacher, she continued to decorate her classes with drawings illustrating the pathways of the muscle chains and the human physiognomy.

For this article, I will briefly present the six most used chains for the practice of motor preferences (the English translation of the muscles may be subject to some mistakes). These chains are the posterior-median (PM), antero-median (AM), postero-anterior (PA), antero-posterior (AP), postero-lateral (PL) and antero-lateral (AL).

Postero-median (PM):
posterior-median muscular chain (PM)

The main muscles in this chain are the muscles :
  • paravertebral (long dorsal, ilio-costal ...)
  • the muscles of the neck
  • the semi-tendinous and semi-membranous hamstrings
  • the soleus muscle
  • the large dorsal muscle
  • lthe long portion of the triceps brachii
  • ...
Located at the back of the body, this chain gets tight if there is a forward imbalance.

Antero-median (AM):
antero-median muscle chain (AM)

The main muscles in this chain are :
  • the rectus abdominis
  • the pectoralis major
  • the adductors and medial rectus
  • the medial gastrocnemius muscle
  • the muscles of the perineum
  • the anterior brachial muscle
  • ...
Located on the front of the body, it becomes tense if there is a rear imbalance.

Postero-anterior (PA):
posterior-anterior muscle chain (PA)

The main muscles of this chain are :
  • the rectus abdominis
  • the diaphragm muscle
  • the external intercostals
  • the interspinatus
  • ...
In the terminology of motor preferences, this is the respiratory chain of inspiration.

Antero-posterior (AP):
anteroposterior muscle chain (AP)

The main muscles in this chain are :
  • the quadratus lumborum
  • the middle and posterior scalene muscles
  • the psoas
  • ...
In the terminology of motor preferences, we call it the respiratory chain of expiration.

Postero-lateral (PL):
postero-lateral muscle chain (PL)

The main muscles constituting this chain are :
  • the gluteus medius
  • the biceps femoris
  • theonclick="window.location.href='ressources/grasping-reflex.html';" vastus lateralis of the quadriceps
  • the upper and middle trapezius
  • the middle deltoid
  • the ulnar muscle
  • ...
Wide outward movements are characteristic of extraversion.

Antero-lateral (AL):
antero-lateral  muscle chain (AL)

The main muscles making up this chain are :
  • the tensor facia-lata
  • the anterior and posterior tibial muscles
  • the sternocleidomastoid
  • the latissimus dorsi (iliac portion)
  • the subscapularis muscle
  • the long portion of the biceps
  • ...
Movements from outside to inside are characteristic of intoversion.





Sources and pictures :
Godelieve Denys-Struyf, Fondements de la méthode des chaînes GDS. ICT GDS
Godelieve Denys-Struyf, Les chaines musculaires et articulaires. ICT GDS
Godelieve Denys-Struyf, Le manuel du méziériste, tome 2. Frison-Roche
Philippe Campignion, Godelieve Denys-Struyf, Les chaînes musculaires et articulaires Méthode GDS: Aspects biomécaniques Tome 1, Notions de base, Philippe Campignion
"Intelligence is not what you know, but what you do when you don't know." - Jean Piaget
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