The Use of Tensegrity Concept in the Massage of Selected Muscles

The Use of Tensegrity Concept in the Massage of Selected Muscles in the Context of Their Contractile and Passive Properties Among Men Aged 19-24

The study design is a randomised, controlled, parallel, two-arm trial. The subjects are randomly assigned to one of the study groups: the intervention group or the control group. The study will analyze the applicability of the tensegrity principle in the massage therapy. The main aim of this study is to examine if the tensegrity principle can be used in massage therapy to increase the effectiveness of the intervention. Contractile and passive mechanical properties are assessed before and after the intervention.

The phenomenon of tensegrity, despite the ever-growing interest and its many supporters, still remains a theoretical model. Its assumptions refer to the possibility of spreading stresses between individual elements of the musculoskeletal system in order to achieve structural homeostasis. An important role here is played by muscles that remain in structural contact with each other, e.g. through a common bone attachment or fascia. Theoretically, this means that a change in the tone of one muscle can lead to changes in the tone of other muscles that are structurally connected to it. It is worth noting that this mechanism works both when one of the muscles increases its tension and when this tension is decreased.

The difficulty associated with assessing the significance of tensegration for the motion system consists in the proper design of research that accurately quantifies this phenomenon. Experiments conducted to date have mostly been performed in vitro. Despite their scientific value, analyses of this type only take part of this phenomenon into account, because they do not consider the presence of body fluids as well as the tension produced by nerves and blood vessels.

In this project the following connection between muscles are tested:

• deltoid muscle and brachioradialis muscle
• latissimus dorsi muscle and the anterior compartment muscles of the forearm,
• tensor fasciae latae and pectoralis major muscle

Inclusion Criteria:

• age between 18 and 24 years;
• healthy individuals, with no lower and upper extremities pathology;
• PA≥600 MET-min/week assessed by IPAQ questionnaire;
• no medical contraindication of massage therapy;
• body mass index 18,5 < BMI ≤ 25kg/m2
• signing the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• individuals suffering from neurologic or orthopaedic problems;
• lower ot upper extremities surgical interventions;
• cancers;
• musculoskeletal disorders
• body mass index 18,5 > BMI ≥ 25kg/m2
• the lack of informed consent.