Fascial Slings

Created by Rachel Maria Kisellus

There are four primary fascial slings (sometimes called “myofascial slings” or “myofascial chains”) in the body. These are key anatomical systems that connect muscles, fascia, and connective tissue across different regions to allow coordinated movement and force transfer.

🗝️ The 4 Main Fascial Slings

Anterior Oblique Sling
- Includes: External obliques, contralateral internal obliques, and adductors (like the inner thigh muscles), connected via the abdominal fascia.
- Function: Helps with rotational movements, stabilization during walking, and force transfer from upper to lower body.
Posterior Oblique Sling
- Includes: Latissimus dorsi, thoracolumbar fascia, and contralateral gluteus maximus.
- Function: Crucial for walking and running ~ think arm-to-opposite-leg connection; helps with posterior chain power and core support.
Deep Longitudinal Sling
- Includes: Erector spinae, thoracolumbar fascia, sacrotuberous ligament, biceps femoris (hamstring).
- Function: Supports upright posture, shock absorption, and forward propulsion in gait.
Lateral Sling
- Includes: Gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae (TFL), iliotibial band (ITB), and lateral core structures.
- Function: Stabilizes the pelvis during single-leg activities like walking, running, or balancing.

🔗 Fascia’s Role in Slings:

Fascia links non-adjacent muscles so they can act like one continuous system (e.g. lats + opposite glute).
It allows for load sharing and force transmission over distance (especially across the torso and limbs).
Fascia is pre-tensioned ~ it stores elastic energy like a spring when stretched, then recoils to assist movement.

So while the sling systems are myofascial (muscle + fascia), it's really the fascia that lets them operate like coordinated webs rather than isolated chunks.

🧠 Breakdown Chart (Major + Minor Slings)

Sling Name	Key Muscles	Function
Anterior Oblique	External & internal obliques, adductors, ab fascia	Rotation, gait, core-to-limb coordination
Posterior Oblique	Latissimus dorsi, glute max, thoracolumbar fascia	Walking, trunk rotation, power transfer
Deep Longitudinal	Erector spinae, biceps femoris, sacrotuberous ligament	Postural support, shock absorption, forward propulsion
Lateral Sling	Glute med, TFL, ITB, quadratus lumborum	Pelvic stability, balance, side-to-side motion
Arm Line (Functional Arm)	Rhomboids, deltoid, biceps/triceps, forearm, wrist flexors/extensors	Reaching, throwing, pushing/pulling
Pelvic Sling	Pelvic floor, multifidus, transverse abdominis, diaphragm	Core control, intra-abdominal pressure, SI joint support
Shoulder-Pelvis Cross	Serratus anterior, obliques, contralateral glute max	Gait, crawling, cross-body coordination
Adductor-Glute Line	Adductors, glute med/min, lateral chain	Lateral transition, pelvic balance
Spiral Line	Rhomboids, obliques, glutes, tibialis anterior, etc.	Anti-rotation, spiral movement, balance

💺 Why Slings Work Seated:

You reduce balance demands, so you can dial into subtle coordination and fascial tensioning.
You can recruit and feel contralateral lines (e.g. right arm reaching while left foot presses) without the chaos of full-body movement.
It trains core integration and postural awareness, especially for folks who fatigue quickly standing.