Biotensegrity and fascintegrity are terms derived from biological and fascial tensegrity, which describe the structural integrity of biological systems based on the principles of tensegrity. Biotensegrity is the broader concept; fascintegrity focuses more narrowly on the fascia itself, while also incorporating the importance of fluid dynamics within the system. For this article, I’m simply going to refer to biotensegrity, the broader framework that includes all elements of the body (bones, muscles, fascia, tendons) working in balance through tension and compression.
Tensegrity, a concept first introduced by architect and inventor Buckminster Fuller, was later adapted by Stephen M. Levin, MD, to describe living structures that stabilize themselves through a balance of tension and compression forces: biotensegrity. In living organisms, this balance allows for flexibility, strength, and adaptability. In 2021, I introduced the concept of the biotensegrity bridge (“Human-device Integration: Introducing the Biotensegrity Bridge,” The O&P EDGE, March 2021). This article dives deeper into biotensegrity and its relevance to prosthetic socket design and its effects on the wearer.
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