Tensegrity: what the heck is that and how does it relate to me?

The body is probably one of the most fascinating things in the world because of the way it is put

together. One might say that it is simply a pile of strings and sticks joined together. But how does this pile of strings and sticks stay upright? The answer is through tensional integrity (muscular system) and a compressive support system (skeletal system). Based on this description, the body is a tensegrity structure. What exactly does a tensegrity structure look like? The image to the right is a simple example. Our bodies are obviously more complex than what is shown here, but I think you’ll be able to appreciate the comparison.

We need our body to do exactly what it is supposed to do: compress and stretch and then rebound back. Outside of trauma, pain occurs because there is an imbalance of forces within the body. In other words, some strings aren’t pulling their weight, leading to unloaded regions that compromise the overall structure. Some good news is that this is usually only during certain movements. For example, a body weight squat that is accompanied with a flexed back and lack of ankle dorsiflexion. During motion (walking, running, jumping, pushing, etc.), we need a system that can both move our structure and stabilize it at the same time. We need to utilize muscle tensioning in a dynamic way to ensure that our movements are performed with efficiency and control. That means the tension we perceive through a particular motion should change throughout that motion. The change in tension signals other regions to engage or slightly deactivate to allow for fluid motion.

In a previous blog about Stages of Therapy Post Injury, I talked about tissue compliance. Tissue compliance is what allows our tensegrity structure to be compressed and stretched but then return back to a state of balance. If we don’t have this ability, we are at risk of injury and we all want to avoid getting hurt, right? How do we get tissue compliance? We move! Good movement over time leads to less physical stress in the body which then leads to less pain. Not sure how to move in order to feel less stress and strain? Well, I am here to help you with that. Pro tip: It’s not always the area that hurts that needs the most work! Book an appointment with me today and let’s get you moving better.

Dr. Mark Bird, BSc (Hon), MSc, Acu, DC Chiropractor at The Coach House www.drmarkbirdchiropractic.com