The influence of osteopathic correction on the viscoelastic characteristics of the lower leg muscles

Introduction. To date there is a lack of studies dedicated to the objectification of the palpation data obtained by a specialist during the osteopathic examination. The issue of the evidence of the results of osteopathic correction still remains important. Search for instrumental methods allowing to register and to measure various palpation phenomena and manifestations of somatic dysfunctions is very relevant for the development of osteopathy as a science. It is also very important to find objective characteristics of these methods.

Goal of research — to study viscoelastic characteristics of the soft tissues of the lower legs by palpation and instrumental methods before and after osteopathic correction.

Materials and methods. 22 volunteers (12 women and 10 men) aged 18–23 years without complaints of the musculoskeletal system were examined. Osteopathic diagnostics and measurement of the viscoelastic properties of muscles were carried out by the method of vibration viscoelastometry before and after osteopathic correction.

Results. Correlation analysis by Spearman showed that the subjective assessment of an osteopath positively correlated with both elasticity (r=0,43, p<0,05) and viscosity of soft issues (r=0,29, p<0,05). For the gastrocnemius muscle, this pattern was even more pronounced — for elasticity r=0,51, p<0,05, for viscosity =0,34, p<0,05. After osteopathic correction no changes in the elasticity of the soft tissues were observed. The viscosity of the tissues reduced, but in the projection of the gastrocnemius muscle, these changes were not statistically significant (p=0,12), whereas in the projection of the soleus muscle statistically significant changes (p=0,034) were observed.

Conclusion. Changes in the viscoelastic properties of tissues demonstrated that the effects of osteopathic correction with the use of myofascial mobilization techniques, articulation mobilization techniques, and lymphatic drainage techniques were not obvious. The elasticity of soft tissues of the lower legs did not change, while the viscosity decreased, especially in the projection of the soleus muscles. This effect of the osteopathic correction can be associated with the effect of thixotropy — the transformation of gel-like intercellular substance into sol. Thus, the research showed that vibration viscoelastometry can be used for the objectifi cation of the condition of soft tissues and of the effects of osteopathic correction.

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