Strain Counterstrain: A Manual Therapeutic Approach

What Are Strain Counterstrain?

The strain counterstrain technique, formerly well-known as the positional release technique, is a manual physiotherapeutic intervention where the therapist employs the treatment with only their hands. So, it is a hand-on-hand treatment approach for muscle and joint pain yet dysfunction in the conditions from musculoskeletal and neurodevelopmental origin.

History of Strain Counterstrain Technique:

Dr. Lawrence Jones, an osteopath, developed strain counterstrain in 1955. He showed interest in the osteopath theme when he knew his friend from an acute back injury got relief from the osteopath hand manipulation approach.

• Just after Dr. Lawrence pursued his degree in osteopathy, he commenced his practice. His initial approach for the joint was a high-velocity-based manipulation technique.

• He then employed manipulative techniques, as on the conception that the joint that became subluxated (mobile) or locked would eventually get loose only with the high-velocity thrusts.

• But, he encountered rare cases of resisting manipulative skills.

• And, with frustration, he experimented the concept of positional release with an osteopathic lesion. Finally, however, he discovered the positional release technique in a young adult with parasites (stooped posture).

• Through a session, he uncovered the patient's comfortable position after twenty minutes of exploration. So, with the appropriate degree, rotation, and position, the adult showed a positive response within four months of intervention. And soon, the person could stand erect with total comfort.

• Therefore, Dr. Lawrence Jones ascertained the effects of putting a person in a comfort state with a counterstain approach.

How Do the Strain and Counterstrain Techniques Work?

Firstly, after an injury or trauma, the muscle primarily over-stretches as compensation for tissue protection. Consequently, muscles become confined in a limited position, bringing about dysfunctional changes, pain, and irritation. So, the therapist focuses on and stimulates the specific tender points concerned with the affected muscles and joints. While holding up in an appropriate specified position, this gentle pressing on the tender points conveys the message to the nervous system. Now, the body tends to function normally, healing itself. So, the over-stretched and damaged muscles are resolved, aiding in a return to the intended status. Relief and reinforcement are appreciable. Long-term pain relief is sustained with the exercises.

Tender Points: Tender points are distinct and small areas on the body that are identified as edematous (fluid retention resulting in swelling). The tender points are detected when the person experiences pain or discomfort while feeling or examining. So, the therapist allows the person to be in a position that minimizes tenderness while assessing tender points.

What Are the Applications of the Strain Counterstrain Technique of Physiotherapy?

The strain counterstrain technique has effectively treated various states by addressing the multiple systems in the body, incorporating muscles, joints, tissues, organs, nerves, blood vessels, fascia, and the lymphatic system. Therefore, it is applied in the following concerns and thus holds the effectiveness accordingly.

Fascia: Fascia is essential as it covers and attaches to the various aspects of the human body. So, it is a part of the tendons, ligaments, muscles, blood vessels, and nervous system. Therefore, it will result in pain and organ dysfunction when there is an impaired fascia's ability to stretch. This tightening gets alleviated by gently pushing the organ system to shorten the fascia, and thus, it gets released.

Nerves and Nervous System: The person may experience shoulder impingement, trigeminal neuralgia, spinal pain, headaches, frozen shoulder, nausea, muscular weakness, and balance concerns when the fascia covering the nerves gets tightened.

Circulatory System: The arteries and veins incorporate smooth muscle, which gets tightened when injured or inflamed. This tightening of smooth muscle culminates in vasoconstriction (compression of blood vessels), so blood circulation reduces in the areas. That eventually results in pain and delayed healing. So, by the gentle glide of the involved vessel, the muscle slackens, and the strength is reinforced.

Lymphatic System: The lymphatic or filtration system that carries the protein-rich fluid containing toxins, inflammatory cells, dead cells, and cancer cells gets stimulated and contracted when inflammation occurs due to chemical substances. So, it results in fluid accumulation in the vessels and inflammatory cells in the tissue, known as lymphatic dysfunction. So, the strain counterstain approach is made in the lymphatic vessel with a tender point. Finally, lymphatic vessels cleanse those chemical substances as the restoration of the lymphatic system is enhanced.

Musculoskeletal Pain: Fascia is a significant element of musculoskeletal systems. In addition, facial contractility (compressibility) attributes to the development of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. So gentle glide to the tender points indicating fascia alleviates the pain and restores the function.

Consequently, the strain counterstrain technique is applied to help fight the following states:

• Anxiety: On another determinant, anxiety is due to the inflammation releasing the epinephrine and cortisol hormones. Anxiety is resolved with the approach to the nerve.

• Digestion: The treatment of dysfunctional nerves results in the reinforcement of digestive function.

• Sleep: It improves sleep when the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are enhanced.

• Strength: The strength of the arms and legs is reinforced by the specific nerves' slackening.

• Value of Life: By treating and reinforcing various conditions, strain counterstain improves one’s quality of life.

What Are the Benefits of the Physiotherapy Strain Counterstrain Technique?

The concept of the strain counterstrain is to deal with the seed of the pain rather than covering the symptoms with band-aids. Therefore, it alleviates the root cause of the state and possesses the following benefits:

• Alleviation of pain.

• Reduction of the tension in the muscle, joint or other structures involved.

• Relaxation of soft tissue.

• Relaxation of join.

• Reduces muscle spasms.

• Increases muscle tone, mass, and strength.

• Improvement in range of motion (ROM) while a range of motion is the joint’s capability to undergo its full spectrum of movements. It is all about how far one can stretch the body with the joint or muscle.

Subsequently, certain conditions benefit from the strain counterstrain technique and counterstrain solitarily.

• Fibromyalgia.

• Neck pain and back pain.

• Migraine and non-migraine headaches.

• Neuropathy

• Ankle sprains.

• Chronic edema.

• Neuropathy.

• Digestive and endocrine dysfunctions.

• Sports injuries and road traffic accidents.

• Visual disturbances.

• Tachycardia.

• Peripheral arterial disease.

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

• Post-surgery concerns.

• Seizures.

• Depression.

• Balance disorders.

• Other impaired immune system functions.

• Arthritis.

• Whiplash.

Conclusion

Certified, experienced, and skilled physiotherapists work on alleviating pain and tissue contractions in the body through the gentle hands-on technique called strain counterstrain. The whole process is off slackening and decompressing the compressed structures. It has proven its efficacy with shreds of evidence; thus, it is a good, painless viable choice for the intervention of pain and musculoskeletal concerns.