What is Fascial Counterstrain?
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Fascial Counterstrain is a gentle technique that uses body positioning, compression, and tissue glides to release a reflexive tightening of fascia within various systems of the body (arterial, lymphatic, venous, visceral, ligamentous, dural, and nervous). This release reduces inflammation, pain, and muscular tension, while it improves relaxation, circulation, and mobility, thus restoring function.
“Fascial Strain and Counterstrain technique is a skilled, passive manipulation of the body’s deep fascial proprioceptors. The goal of which is a normalization of the associated, dysfunctional, nocifensive and nociautonomic reflexes that maintain central, spinal cord sensitization. The observable clinical effects include: decreased nociception, decreased inflammation, improved flexibility, improved proprioception, normalization of muscle tone and improved functional performance.”
--Brian Tuckey, PT, OCS, JSCCI, Innovator of Fascial Counterstrain “In Counterstrain…the already shortened muscles are initially further shortened. Maximal shortening removes all internal stresses, totally deactivating nociception. By holding the tissues in this position for at least 90 seconds…local inflammation will decrease as the noxious chemicals are carried away.” --Richard L. Van Buskirk, DO, 1990 |
What is fascia? |
Fascia is a soft, collagen containing connective tissue found throughout the body. It includes any tissue that contains features capable of responding to mechanical stimuli. Fascia has a variety of functions, which include the following:
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Dysfunction of fascia |
Fascia has the ability to contract - to tighten up - in response to inflammation caused by trauma or immune responses (interstitial inflammatory stasis). This tightness will affect all of the structures surrounded by the affected fascia, and it will reduce their ability to function efficiently. Additionally, the interstitial inflammatory stasis will trigger muscle guarding reflexes, which add tension to the region. The resulting tissue tightness will not respond to stretching. Restoring optimal function and mobility to the tissue requires the removal of the incriminating inflammation.
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Other Resources |
Here are some outside sources that are interesting and informative
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