Being inspired by Robert Schleip’s work, I would like to see a more detailed “homunculus” representation of the body but mapped using mechanoreceptors instead of sensory nerves.

There are 4 main types of mechanoreceptors embedded in fascia. The Golgi tendon organs that live in the myotendonus junctions; the Pacini and Paciniform receptors that live in myotendionus junctions, deep capsular layers, and spinal ligaments; the Ruffini receptors that live in ligaments of peripheral joints and the dura matter; and the most abundant are the Interstitial receptors found everywhere but with the highest density in the periosteum of the bones.

For instance, the Ruffini mechanoreceptors respond to lateral stretching of fascia and tangential, deep, slow work that when Rolfed appropriately will smooth and elongate dense edges in tissue. Specifically at the knee, Ruffini receptors are in abundance both anterior and posterior and trigger a relaxing response to the sympathetic response (parasympathetic increase) and an overall relaxing effect systemically. On the medial and lateral lines of the knee there are more Pacini and Paciniform receptors, which like a more high velocity or vibratory manipulation to relax. The Interstitial receptors, which are everywhere, like sustained pressure but can also respond to rapid fluxuations. To illicit change in the Golgi Tendon Organs it’s important to understand that movement cues must be used as GTO’s are stimulated by muscular tonus increase if they are to respond to deep manipulation. Passive stretching of the joint only stretches the relaxed muscle tissue and does not activate GTO’s so will not change these myofascial tissues.

It is going to be important to the field of Structural Integration to map the body and choose appropriate techniques mated to anatomical places to illicit permanent change efficiently. Or we could keep just doing everything! I for one am too busy for inefficiency.

All of this info is available in Robert Schleip’s 2003 paper, “Fascial Mechanoreceptors and their potential role in deep tissue manipulation” - Mechanoreceptors

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 9th, 2007 at 9:47 am and is filed under Structural Integration, Research & Science, Medical Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.