Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Volume 11, Issue 4 , Pages 308-317, October 2007

The contractile field—A new model of human movement

Orthodox Mews, 3–70 Webb Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

Received 14 March 2006; received in revised form 2 October 2006; accepted 29 November 2006.

Summary 

A new model, the contractile field (CF), conceptually informed by the embryology and evolutionary biomechanics of vertebrate movement patterns, describes fields of interacting contractility. Contractile fields are whole organism in scope and model core mammalian movement patterns such as flexing/extending, lateral flexing, twisting left/right, squeezing, pulsating, and peristaltic movements. They are fields of contractility that textile-like, form a warp and weft. Each contractile field is modelled as embedding a primary sense organ.

An assessment methodology called ‘Archetypal Postures’ is introduced.

Keywords: Contractile field, Embryology, Evolutionary, Biomechanics, Archetypal postures

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PII: S1360-8592(06)00118-5

doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2006.11.008

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Volume 11, Issue 4 , Pages 308-317, October 2007