Myofascial Lines: Equine Diagnostic Techniques

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Fascia is no longer considered passive wrapping. It transmits force, responds to stress, connects distant structures, and — when it contracts — produces clinical patterns that extend far beyond the site of restriction. This thesis takes that understanding into equine territory, examining eleven myofascial kinetic lines identified through cadaver dissection studies by Elbrønd and Schulz, and asking whether mapping these lines can sharpen osteopathic assessment in the horse. The eleven lines — spanning dorsal, ventral, lateral, spiral, functional, and front limb pathways — run from the tail to the cranium and link every region of the body, including the viscera. Each is presented with its anatomical course, its primary function in movement, and the clinical picture that emerges when it enters static contraction. A contracted superficial dorsal line, for example, produces a predictable cascade: stiff topline, restricted hind propulsion, shortened front stride, increased tendon load. Understanding why those signs cluster together is exactly the kind of grounding that makes assessment more purposeful. The deep ventral line receives particular attention. Its pathways run through the diaphragm, visceral fascia, pericardium, and the sympathetic chain — meaning tension here may impair organ mobility, alter venous return, and influence autonomic tone alongside its postural effects. The implications for practice are significant. The author is clear-eyed about the evidence base: only one research team has performed these equine dissection studies, and no equivalent work has been done on living animals. Differential diagnosis between individual lines is genuinely difficult when so many share symptoms. But as a complementary framework for understanding postural patterns and distant connections, this thesis makes a compelling case that myofascial kinetic lines belong in the equine osteopath's diagnostic thinking.