Unlocking the Secrets of Fascial Counterstrain Therapy
No matter where it comes from, pain is very limiting. Pain often keeps us homebound and restricts us from living our lives to their fullest. Frequently pain becomes chronic and resistant to medications. Chronic pain leads to further health issues such as fatigue, insomnia, depression, or anxiety. Pain can reduce mobility and limit the body’s normal function. Over time, this creates stiffness and spasms as well as poor posture and an imbalances within the body.
Sometimes the root cause of pain is due to tight, inflamed, or injured fascia. An impaired fascia may interfere with the affected area’s normal blood flow, nerve function, lymphatic drainage, or organ function. This may result in various disorders or dysfunctions, such as digestive problems, headaches, nerve issues, organ dysfunction, etc.
Fascial counterstrain can identify and release the specific fascial structures causing the problem and restore normal blood flow, nerve function, and movement to the area. Today we will learn about fascial counterstrain and introduce you to our Partner in Health, Tracey Eaton, who performs fascial counterstrain therapy with great success.
What is fascia?
Fascia is the connective tissue that covers all the structures in the body, such as organs, nerves, arteries, muscles, ligaments, and more. You may be familiar with it as the silvery film you see when cutting into a piece of chicken. Its job is to connect and protect every structure in the body.
What is Fascial Counterstrain Therapy?
Fascial counterstrain is a type of manual therapy that aims to release spasms and inflammation in the fascia, the connective tissue that covers all the structures in the body, including the arteries, lymphatic vessels, bones, and organs. It involves finding specific tender points that indicate which fascial structure is affected and then gently shortening the tissue until the spasm and pain are relieved.
How Fascial Counterstrain Works
When the body experiences a strain, the brain leaps into action to protect the affected area. The brain gets a signal through pain receptors to tighten the fascia around the site to shield it from further strain. When this happens, it reduces the blood flow and traps inflammation at the site leading to decreased range of motion.
The fascia will be released once the initial strain is released. Sometimes time and rest will allow the fascia to release, but often the body needs help. Fascial counterstrain is a precise, gentle therapy that releases strained fascia throughout the body. Fascial counterstrain can treat various conditions, such as chronic pain, headaches, joint problems, digestive disorders, nerve issues, and more. This gentle technique can help restore normal function and movement in the body.
How Fascial Counterstrain is Performed
Fascial counterstrain is performed by a trained therapist who uses their hands to find and fix fascial dysfunction in the body. It can be applied to any body part, including the musculoskeletal, visceral, vascular, nervous, and lymphatic systems. Sessions may vary, but typically the therapist follows these steps:
- The therapist palpates the patient’s body to locate specific tender points that indicate which fascia is affected.
- The therapist gently moves the patient’s body into a position that shortens the fascia and reduces the tension and pain at the tender point. This position is held for 90 seconds while the therapist monitors the tender point.
- The therapist slowly returns the patient’s body to a neutral position and reassesses the tender point for improvement. The therapist may repeat the process for other tender points or areas of the body.
The process is pain-free and can help release spasms and inflammation in the fascia. Fascial counterstrain can also be combined with other therapies, such as exercise, massage, or acupuncture, to enhance the results.
Our Partner in Health, Tracey, lets a client’s head guide her when performing fascial counterstrain. Sensitive areas on the head correspond to imbalances within the body that are in need of fascial counterstrain therapy.
What are the benefits of fascial counterstrain?
Fascial counterstrain is a powerful and beneficial technique that can help you improve your health and well-being. It can treat acute and chronic pain and various conditions that affect the musculoskeletal, visceral, vascular, nervous, and lymphatic systems to reduce pain and reliance on pain medication.
Fascial counterstrain can enhance athletic performance and recovery by improving blood flow, nerve function, and lymphatic drainage. And it may even reduce the need for surgery by restoring normal movement and function in the affected area.
By addressing the root cause of the inflammation and spasms, you can maintain and enhance wellness by improving the body’s ability to heal and function naturally.
What are the risks of fascial counterstrain?
Fascial counterstrain is generally a safe and gentle technique that does not cause harm or adverse effects to the patient. However, as with any therapy, there may be some risks or limitations that you should be aware of before trying it.
Fascial counterstrain may not be suitable for patients who have acute injuries, such as fractures or dislocations, as the manipulation may worsen the condition or cause further damage. It may also be contraindicated for patients with infections or blood clots, as the therapy may spread the disease or dislodge the clot.
Fascial counterstrain may not be effective for patients with chronic conditions caused by factors other than fascial dysfunction. These include hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, or psychological stress. It may also not address the underlying cause of the fascial dysfunction, such as poor posture, repetitive strain, or trauma, which may require additional therapies or lifestyle changes.
If you have any conditions, consult your doctor before trying new therapies.
Once fascial counterstrain has been performed, you may experience temporary discomfort or soreness as the body adjusts and releases toxins from the tissues. Some people may even feel flu-like symptoms. Also, it may cause some emotional reactions, such as crying, laughing, or anger, as the therapy releases stored emotions or memories from the fascia.
Be sure to follow any instructions or recommendations your therapist gives you after the session, such as drinking plenty of water, resting, stretching, or applying ice or heat to the affected area.
Does fascial counterstrain work?
Yes! Fascial counterstrain releases spasms and inflammation by finding and fixing specific tender points that indicate which fascial structure is affected. The therapist then gently shortens the tissue until the spasm and pain are relieved. Once the spasm is quieted pain is reduced and function improves. This process resets the nerve endings and smooth muscle cells in the fascia and restores normal blood flow, lymphatic drainage, nerve function, and movement to the affected area.
Fascial counterstrain works for a wide range of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system. It also addresses the visceral, vascular, nervous, and lymphatic systems. It can treat acute and chronic pain and various disorders such as digestive problems, headaches, nerve issues, organ dysfunction, and more.
How long does it take to see results?
The results from fascial counterstrain may vary depending on the individual, the condition, and the frequency and duration of the treatment. Some people may require only a few sessions to achieve their goals. Some have even reported immediate pain relief and improvement of function after a single session! Others may need more sessions depending on the severity and chronicity of their condition. The effects of fascial counterstrain are cumulative and long-lasting, meaning that each session builds on the previous one.
Typically people have 6 to 12 sessions, each lasting 45 to 60 minutes, and visit the therapist 1-2 times a week.
Traditional Massage vs. Fascial Counterstrain
Fascial counterstrain may have some advantages over traditional massage in treating pain and dysfunction in the body.
Fascial counterstrain is a pain-free technique that does not stretch or force the tissue into restriction. Instead, the tissue is placed into a position of ease and comfort. This can help reduce the risk of tissue damage or inflammation and make the therapy more comfortable and relaxing for the patient.
Also, fascial counterstrain gets to the root cause of pain and inflammation often characterized by spasms of the fascia. By releasing the fascia, the therapist can restore normal blood flow, lymphatic drainage, nerve function, and movement to the affected area. Traditional massage may only provide temporary relief by working on the superficial layers of muscle and skin.
Additionally, fascial counterstrain can treat various conditions affecting the musculoskeletal, visceral, vascular, nervous, and lymphatic systems. It can identify and release specific tender points that correspond to different structures in the body, such as organs, arteries, veins, nerves, and lymph nodes. Traditional massage may not be able to access or affect these deeper structures.
These advantages to facial counterstrain don’t mean that traditional massage is ineffective or inferior to fascial counterstrain. Both techniques have their own benefits and limitations and may work well together or separately, depending on your situation. The best way to find out which therapy suits you is to consult a qualified therapist who can assess your situation and recommend the best course of action.
Jesus Loving Touch Christian Massage Therapist
Our Partner in Health, Tracey Eaton, is a graduate of Cortiva Institute. She pursued Fascial Counterstrain at the Jones Institute in Frederick, MD. She is a certified massage therapist with a Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies from Maryland Bible College and Seminary.
Tracey performs traditional massage, including deep tissue and Swedish, which have many benefits. We are especially interested in her gift for fascial counterstrain.
We have found that sometimes our members require extra help to tackle more structural challenges that may affect their health. Tracey provides an integral part of the holistic balance we strive for when helping our members achieve their goals.
Contact her today for a full consultation. When you do, let us know you are a new client and receive $5 off your next foot bath or red light therapy session!