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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Massage therapy

Detailed Description

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

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 54
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Wroclaw, Poland
    • Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

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.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control group
Experimental: Tensegrity massage group; Participants in the tensegrity massage group are provided with the 5-minute massage session in the anterior compartment muscles of the forearm, tensor fasciae latae muscle, brachioradialis muscle, deltoid muscle, latissimus dorsi muscle and peroneus longus muscle.	Other: Massage therapy; Participants receive a Swedish massage based on the tensegrity principle.
Active Comparator: Massage group; Participants in the massage group are provided with the 5-minute massage session in the anterior compartment muscles of the forearm, tensor fasciae latae muscle and brachioradialis muscle	Other: Massage therapy; Participants receive a Swedish massage based on the tensegrity principle.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in maximal displacement of the deltoid muscle after therapy compared to baseline	The maximal radial displacement is produced in the muscle belly after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in maximal displacement of the latissimus dorsi muscle after therapy compared to baseline	The maximal radial displacement is produced in the muscle belly after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in maximal displacement of the and peroneus longus muscle after therapy compared to baseline	The maximal radial displacement is produced in the muscle belly after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in delay time of the deltoid muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Delay time is the time in which the muscle displacement increases to 10% after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in delay time of the latissimus dorsi muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Delay time is the time in which the muscle displacement increases to 10% after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in delay time of the peroneus longus muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Delay time is the time in which the muscle displacement increases to 10% after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in contraction time of the deltoid muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Contraction time is the time between 10% and 90% of the muscle displacement after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in contraction time of the latissimus dorsi muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Contraction time is the time between 10% and 90% of the muscle displacement after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in contraction time of the peroneus longus muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Contraction time is the time between 10% and 90% of the muscle displacement after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in sustain time of the deltoid muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Sustain time is the time between 50% of maximum contraction to 50% of maximum relaxation of a muscle after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in sustain time of the latissimus dorsi muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Sustain time is the time between 50% of maximum contraction to 50% of maximum relaxation of a muscle after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in sustain time of the peroneus longus muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Sustain time is the time between 50% of maximum contraction to 50% of maximum relaxation of a muscle after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in relaxation time of the peroneus longus muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Relaxation time is the time between 90% of maximum contraction and 50% of maximum relaxation of a muscle after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in relaxation time of the deltoid muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Relaxation time is the time between 90% of maximum contraction and 50% of maximum relaxation of a muscle after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in relaxation time of the latissimus dorsi muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Relaxation time is the time between 90% of maximum contraction and 50% of maximum relaxation of a muscle after the electrical stimulation. Measuring device: TMG S2, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in oscillation frequency of the deltoid muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	The oscillation frequency characterizes the tension of muscle tissue. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in oscillation frequency of the latissimus dorsi muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	The oscillation frequency characterizes the tension of muscle tissue. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in oscillation frequency of the peroneus longus muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	The oscillation frequency characterizes the tension of muscle tissue. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in dynamic stiffness of the deltoid muscle muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	The dynamic stiffness corresponds to the soft tissues' capacity to resist external forces. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in dynamic stiffness of the latissimus dorsi muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	The dynamic stiffness corresponds to the soft tissues' capacity to resist external forces. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in dynamic stiffness of the peroneus longus muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	The dynamic stiffness corresponds to the soft tissues' capacity to resist external forces. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in logarithmic decrement of the deltoid muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Logarithmic decrement is the dissipation of the tissue oscillation. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in logarithmic decrement of the latissimus dorsi muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Logarithmic decrement is the dissipation of the tissue oscillation. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in logarithmic decrement of the peroneus longus muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Logarithmic decrement is the dissipation of the tissue oscillation. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in mechanical stress relaxation time of the deltoid muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Mechanical stress relaxation time is the time needed for the muscle to recover to its initial shape. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in mechanical stress relaxation time of the latissimus dorsi muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Mechanical stress relaxation time is the time needed for the muscle to recover to its initial shape. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in mechanical stress relaxation time of the peroneus longus muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Mechanical stress relaxation time is the time needed for the muscle to recover to its initial shape. Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in creep of the deltoid muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Creep is the ratio of relaxation (R) and time between the beginning of the mechanical impulse and the time point of maximal displacement Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in creep of the latissimus dorsi muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Creep is the ratio of relaxation (R) and time between the beginning of the mechanical impulse and the time point of maximal displacement Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session
Change in creep of the peroneus longus muscle after therapy compared to baseline.	Creep is the ratio of relaxation (R) and time between the beginning of the mechanical impulse and the time point of maximal displacement Measuring device: MyotonPRO, Change = (Value after therapy - baseline)	1) baseline, 2) immediately after the massage session

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Marcin Piwecki, MSc, Doctoral School of Physical Culture Science, University of Physical Education in Kraków, Poland

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Swanson RL 2nd. Biotensegrity: a unifying theory of biological architecture with applications to osteopathic practice, education, and research--a review and analysis. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2013 Jan;113(1):34-52. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2013.113.1.34.
• Bordoni B, Myers T. A Review of the Theoretical Fascial Models: Biotensegrity, Fascintegrity, and Myofascial Chains. Cureus. 2020 Feb 24;12(2):e7092. doi: 10.7759/cureus.7092.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 20, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 26, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 8, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): July 9, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 27, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Massage therapy, tensegrity
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Therapeutics; Complementary Therapies; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Massage
• Other Study ID Numbers: WroclawUHSS1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No