Biotensegrity for Musicians
What is this?!
Tensegrity applied to biological systems and in particular to the Human Body. So first tensegrity is a term coined by the famous Buckminster Fuller, it is a structure that associates tension and integrity. You can also have a look at Kenneth Snelson’s sculptures, the inventor of these structures, to have a better understanding of what it is.
When we look at the body as a tensegrity structure, we realize that are skeleton is floating bones within a sponge-like tensioned tissue.
What are the advantages of this type of structure?
-Highly Energy and Material Efficient
-Muscles and bones have less load
-Mobile and Flexible structure
-Omni-Directional
-Gravity Independent, so it can work right side up, up side down, horizontal, in water and even in space!
-Strain Distribution Machine, this is one of the most important aspects.
A Strain Distribution Machine means that if there is a distortion on one part of the body, it will be distributed to the whole structure. A patient of mine, a young woman percussionist came for pain in her arms. The more she played the more the pain would go down her arms, almost down to her hands.
After asking about her health history, we found out that she had had 2 bicycle falls on one of her ankles. This probably caused a distortion in her ankle. The stress then diffused up to her pelvis, to her shoulders and eventually to her arms. If on top of this you add the hours of daily practice, we can now understand why she has been feeling pain in her arms.
When we take these specificities in to account, we understand why it is important to look at the body as a whole when we want to help someone.
By freeing the persons restrictions, the body’s natural tendency is to revert to a balanced state, where it can do it’s healing job. That’s how chiropractors are able to help many people get rid of their pains without using medication or surgery.
On top of this musicians want to ameliorate their performances with their instrument, having a balanced body is a foundation to that. With a mobile and highly energy efficient body, musicians can better focus on their instrument. So their movements can be more endurant, more precise and faster.
Send your questions to [email protected]
If I can help great or else we’ll look for an other specialist.
Biotensegrity and Dynamic Anatomy DVD, Stephen M Levin MD
Tensegrity in the Body Webinar, Tom Myers
The Floating Bones Journal, Phil Earnhardt