What is strain and Counterstrain technique?

Strain Counterstrain is a manual therapy technique, meaning clinicians use only their hands for treatment of muscle and joint pain. It uses passive body positioning of hypertonic (spasmed) muscles and dysfunctional joints toward positions of comfort or tissue ease that compress or shorten the offending muscle.

What is strain technique?

Strain Counterstrain is a manual therapy technique, meaning the clinician only uses his hands, to treat muscle and joint pain and dysfunction. In observing a skilled Strain Counterstrain practitioner you will immediately be impressed with how gentle and non-traumatic this technique is for treating the painful patient.

Does strain Counterstrain work?

One of the many benefits of the Strain and Counterstrain (SCS) approach is that the technique can be used to treat dysfunction which occurs in different tissues and systems of the body. This includes what is called the craniosacral system.

What is Counterstrain manipulation?

Counterstrain is a technique used in osteopathic medicine, osteopathy, physical therapy, and chiropractic to treat somatic dysfunction. It is a system of diagnosis and treatment that uses tender points, which are considered to be produced by inaccurate neuromuscular reflexes.

Is Counterstrain direct or indirect?

Counterstrain is an indirect technique in which the practitioner places the patient away from the restrictive barrier. The basic procedure for all counterstrain techniques starts with the practitioner finding a tender point in a muscle, ligament, or tendon.

What is integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique?

The integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique (INIT) is a manual deactivation trigger points technique and includes the application of ischemic pressure and stretch, the muscle energy technique and the Strain-counterstrain technique.

What is fascial Counterstrain?

Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) is a therapeutic, hands-on method, designed to release spasm in all tissues of the human body. Every organ, nerve, artery, muscle, ligament, tendon, vein and lymphatic vessel in the human body can actively spasm and produce pain in a natural, protective response to injury.

How long does it take for Counterstrain to work?

Most patients will experience significant relief within 1-4 sessions and be discharged to a home program within 10 sessions. If no change is noticed within the first 6 sessions, we typically advise that you contact your doctor for further evaluation.

Is Counterstrain passive?

Counterstrain is an indirect, passive technique in which the patient is positioned away from a restrictive barrier of motion. The physician monitors the tender point in one hand and holds the patient in a position of ease with the other for 90 seconds.

How long is Counterstrain held for?

What Is Strain Counterstrain? Strain Counterstrain is used to treat new or long term muscle spasms any place in the body. This technique involves “hands-on” treatment that attempts to alleviate muscle and connective tissue tightness by the use of very specific treatment positions held for 90 seconds.

What is ischemic compression therapy?

Ischemic compression is a mechanical treatment of myofascial trigger points that consists of application of sustained pressure for a long enough time to inactivate the trigger points.