The method of topographic tensoalgometry for assessing biomechanical characteristics of soft tissues

Abstract

Introduction. The search for a reliable method for determining the characteristics of superficial soft tissues, which would not only evaluate the biomechanical indices of a particular local zone, but also identify existing changes in the entire area subject to therapeutic manipulation and, moreover, offer recommendations for choosing specific massage techniques, is relevant.The goal of research — to investigate the possibility of using the method of topographic tensoalgometry for assessing the biomechanical characteristics of soft tissues, as a new tool for objective evaluation of methods of manual impact on the patient′s body, taking into account the complete topographic picture of the studied area of patients′ soft tissues.Materials and methods. The study included 43 volunteers aged 18 to 49 years, 24 male and 19 female, with various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, mainly with a diagnosis of lower back pain (ICD-10 code M54.5), who were prescribed a course using classic massage techniques, conducted daily for 5 days. Before and after the massage course, all volunteers underwent topographic tensoalgometry.Results. The advantages of the proposed new method for objectifying the characteristics of surface soft tissues, its practical feasibility and clinical usefulness were shown.Conclusion. Obtained by topographic tensoalgometric diagnostic′s method the data of a holistic topographic picture of the studied area of the soft tissues of patients allow us to give recommendations on the choice of specific groups of massage techniques and to control the dynamics of changes in the data of strain and algometry.