So often, patients tell me with apparent surprise, ‘it’s like it is all connected’. It might sound strange, but the fact that I am working on your neck when you have shoulder pain, or working on your back when your calf hurts makes perfect sense when you understand how the body is built. One of the most helpful ways to explain this connection is through a concept called tensegrity, and it’s something osteopaths often work with when treating pain or movement issues.

What is Tensegrity?

Tensegrity is a word that combines ‘tension’ and ‘integrity’. It comes from architecture, where designers use a mix of tension and compression to create strong, flexible structures, like suspension bridges or the Montreal Biosphere which was designed by the man who coined the term tensegrity, Buckminster Fuller.

(Photo: Yanis Ourabah / Getty Images)

But here’s the amazing part: your body works in a similar way.

In your body, muscles, tendons, and fascia (a stretchy web of connective tissue) provide the tension, while bones act like floating rods held in place by that tension. Instead of your bones stacking like bricks, they ‘float’ in a web of soft tissue that keeps everything supported and in balance. That’s biological tensegrity—also known as biotensegrity.

The Role of Fascia: The Body’s Hidden Web

You might not know much about fascia, but it is found everywhere. Fascia is intertwined with your muscles, bones, organs… your whole structure, creating one continuous, connected network throughout your body. Some say that if everything was removed in your body apart from the fascia, you would still look like you.

Imagine fascia as a spider’s web inside your body. If you tug on one part, the whole structure shifts slightly to compensate. Fascia works this way to provide stability and (the right kind of) tension. If there’s too much tension or tightness in one area, it can pull on other areas too. This helps explain why a knee problem might affect your back, or why old injuries can cause new pain in surprising places.

How Osteopathy Fits In

Osteopathy is a form of hands on healthcare that looks at the body as a whole. Rather than just treating the area that hurts, osteopaths aim to understand why it’s hurting, and often, the answer lies elsewhere in the body.

Because osteopaths are trained to feel restrictions and imbalances in fascia and other tissues, they can gently release areas of tension and help the body find a better balance. The goal is not just to ease pain but to restore healthy movement and function throughout the entire system.

Why This Matters for You

If you’ve ever felt like your body isn’t working quite right… even though scans or tests come back ‘normal’—this model can offer a new perspective. You’re not just a collection of parts. You’re a connected whole, and what happens in one area often affects another.

Understanding tensegrity and fascia helps explain why whole body treatments, like osteopathy, can have such far reaching effects. It’s not magic, although many people call us magicians; it’s just how the body is beautifully and ingeniously designed.

If you are struggling with symptoms that you can’t quite connect, let me see if I can help. Appointments available in Wincanton: Book here or call 07432 234660