Tensor Fascia Latae (TFL)

This course describes the anatomy and integrated function of the tensor fascia latae (a.k.a. TFL, tensor fascia lata, tensor fasciae latae, or tensor muscle). This muscle is located on the proximal and lateral thigh, primarily anterior to the hip joint, invests in the iliotibial tract (iliotibial band), is composed primarily of type I muscle fibers, and crosses the hip joint and knee joint. The tensor fascia latae is a hip flexor, hip abductor, hip internal rotator, tibial external rotator, and may contribute to knee extension or flexion depending on knee joint angle. This course also describes the role of the tensor fascia latae in hip joint arthrokinematics, fascial integration (iliotibial band and gluteus maximus), postural dysfunction, and subsystem integration. Sports medicine professionals (personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, etc.) must be aware of the integrated function of the TFL muscle for detailed analysis of human movement, and the development of sophisticated exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions. Further, this course is essential knowledge for future courses discussing injury prevention and physical rehabilitation (e.g. “tight TFL”, TFL pain, hip joint pain, knee pain, runner’s knee, greater trochanteric bursitis, IT band tightness/iliotibial tract tightness, hip impingement syndrome, etc.) and tensor fascia latae exercises and techniques (e.g. TFL foam rolling, TFL release, TFL soft tissue mobilization, TFL stretch, etc. ).

Brookbush Institute's most recommended techniques for the Tensor Fascia Latae (see videos below):

• Release: TFL Foam Rolling
• Manual Release: TFL Static Manual Release
• Vibration Release: TFL and Vastus Lateralis Vibration Release
• Stretch: Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch

Caption: Cadaver dissection of the TFL