Fascial Strain Counterstrain Therapy

Discover Fascial Strain Counterstrain Therapy Benefits

Fascial strain counterstrain is a therapeutic technique used in osteopathic medicine and physical therapy. It aims to release tension in the fascia—the connective tissue surrounding muscles, organs, and other structures in the body—through gentle manipulation and stretching. The technique involves identifying tender points associated with specific fascial structures and applying precise, gentle pressure to these points in directions that provide relief and relaxation to the affected areas. This approach helps to decrease pain and improve mobility by relieving the strain and dysfunction within the fascia. The method is often used to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal and systemic conditions.

There has been physical therapy models for around 60 years, and Brian Tuckey, my teacher, was the first to recognize that what we treat is not actually a muscle but the connective tissue of the body. “The Fascia”

How I Found Fascial Strain Counterstrain:

After reading a book from Tony Robbins called Lifeforce, there was pain management technique he mentioned called Fascial Counterstrain. Tony mentioned it was light touch and highly effective with pain related issues by draining the inflammation from the corresponding fascia of the body you are treating. This is the gold standard of Fascial work out there. After reading the book my wife found a lady named Migraine Mama and Ben Greenfield on youtube that were taking about how Fascial Counterstrain can help Migraines and many other pain related isssues.

Classes I’ve Taken:

  1. Fascial Counterstrain (Foundations F1)

  2. Fascial Counterstrain (Visceral System)

  3. Fascial Counterstrainn ( MSK-C) Musculoskeletal System: Cartilage and Superficial Fascia

  4. Studying - Fascial Counterstrain (Arterial System)

  5. Studying - Fascial Counterstrain (Lymphatic System)

What Can each System Help:

Visceral System:

  • Chronic Pain From Cervical/Thoracic Junction to Sacroiliac Junction, and Shoulder Pain/ Dysfuction

  • Idiopathic Abdominal Pain

  • Urogenital Dysfunction

  • Pelvic Pain Syndromes

  • Volvulus (Intestinal Torsion)

  • Sciatica and Limited Straight Leg Raise

  • Pulmonary Disease (Asthma, COPD, Chronic Bronchitis)

  • Head Pressure/ Brain Fog/ Snoring/ Sleep Apnea

  • Digestive Dysfunction of All Types ( Food Sensitivities, Reflux/Gerd, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis, Constipation, Crohn’s)

  • Diabetes, Atherosclerosis, Metabolic Syndrome, Global Inflammation

Arterial System:

  • Muscular Pain in all Regions of the Body

  • Migraine/ Non Migraine Headaches

  • Burning Pain

  • Tendonitis

  • Chest Wall Pain

  • Light-Headedness, Vertigo

  • Psuedo-Radiculopathies

  • Tachycardia

  • Digestive Dysfunction, Constipation

  • PAD

  • Pelvic Floor, TMJ Pain, Hip/Groin Pain

  • Degenerative Joints

Lymphatic System:

  • Musculoskeletal Pain

  • Bursitis

  • Edema

  • Headaches

  • Nerve Symptoms/ Radiculopathy

  • Sinusitis/ Ear Pressure/ Tinnitus

  • Vertigo

  • IBS/ IBD

  • Fatigue/ CFS/ Impaired Immune System

  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

MSK-C System:

  • TMJ and TMD

  • Central Sensitization

  • Eustachian tube symptoms; Vestibular dysfunction, one sided Tinnitus, Ear fullness, Ear pain, Auditory distortions

  • Disc Herniations

  • Shoulder Labrum dysfunction

  • Hip Labrum dysfunction

  • Meniscus dysfunction or tear

  • Trigger finger

What Causes Fascial Dysfunction?

  1. Trauma

  2. Surgery

  3. Postural Strain (Tissue Hypoxia)

  4. Over Use/ Repetitive Strain

  5. Structural Strain (Leg Length Discrepancy, Pronation etc.)

  6. Inflammatory Disease (Lyme, Chron’s etc.)

  7. Fibromyalgia/ Food Sensitivities