What is Fascial Counterstrain?
Even though everyone's body reacts differently, contracted tissue and inflammation is the body's default way to protect itself from further injury. Reflex tissue contractions occur in the body’s deep fascia layers, skeletal muscle tissues, and/or smooth muscle structures in response to a variety of mechanical or chemical insults. The treatments are completely painless making them a viable option for even the most painful and delicate cases.
Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) is a therapeutic, hands-on technique designed to release spasm in all tissues of the body. The body’s protective “guarding” reflexes cause spasms and tender points, which are common sources of pain and dysfunction within the body.
Fascial Counterstrain uses tender points to identify painful, reflexively protected and contracted tissues. This allows the practitioner to go to the specific part of the body that needs attention and support. Tissue spasms and contractions can occur in all parts of the body, not just the muscles. This impacts our internal organs, circulatory, nervous and fascial systems.
Fascia is the connective tissue that is found throughout our body. It surrounds muscles, anchors our internal organs in place and covers our veins, arteries and bones. Fascia runs through our entire body, from head to fingers and toes and impacts everything in between. Many times, fascia is the reason for restricted movement and pain that gets blamed on other things, such as muscles. This technique has been successfully used to relieve pain and dysfunction resistant to other forms of therapy.
How many sessions are needed to experience relief?
Most patients will experience significant relief within 1-4 sessions. If no change is noticed within the first 6 sessions, we typically advise that you contact your doctor for further evaluation. In general, individual treatment results are lasting. Most conditions, however, are due to dozens, even hundreds of individual dysfunctions thus multiple treatment sessions are frequently required to reach maximum benefit.
What happens during a session?
In Fascial Counterstrain, the practitioner uses their hands to perform an assessment of the client’s head (called a “cranial scan”) to locate tender points, which relate to contracted tissues in other parts of the body. While the client sits and/or lays down on a massage table, the practitioner uses gentle body positioning to quickly relax the strained structure. This reduces tension, releases trapped inflammation and immediately alleviates that source of pain.
Fascial Counterstrain is performed while the you are fully dressed, so it is important you wear lightweight, loose clothing that allows freedom of movement. Choices include workout clothes, shorts and t-shirts. Please do not wear jeans, belts, underwire bras, dresses or skirts. If needed, you can bring clothes with you to change into.
What should I expect after a session?
While the techniques are very gentle and subtle, they release trapped inflammation and it is up to your body to process and eliminate this extra fluid and metabolic waste. The body’s reactions to these changes may cause some post-session soreness. However, there are some things you can do to drastically reduce this:
- Drink plenty of water. You should drink water prior to your session so that you are well hydrated. Continue to drink lots of water afterwards.
- Go for an easy 15-20 minute walk afterwards to increase circulation.
- Take a warm Epsom Salt bath.
- Rest to allow your body to adjust and heal
- Avoid strenuous activities for 2-3 days so that your body doesn’t revert back to its previous state.
What types of conditions can be relieved using Fascial Counterstrain?
- Anxiety Disorders
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Fibromyalgia
- Chronic Neck, Back and Extremity Pain
- Digestive Disorders / IBS
- Frozen Shoulder
- Joint Replacements
- Lyme Disease/Tick-borne Illness
- Migraine & Tension Headaches
- Myofascial Pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Sciatica
- Sports Injury
- Women’s Health
These are just a few common conditions. If you are experiencing symptoms related to something not on this list, I would be happy to discuss this with you further.
Where can I find more information?
More detailed information can be found at Counterstrain.com/patients/