Counterstrain
Counterstrain is a technique used in
Strain-Counterstrain
In this technique, the practitioner identifies a point of musculoskeletal pain, called a tender point. Tender points are small, discrete, edematous areas on the body that elicit pain when palpated. Monitoring the tender point, the practitioner positions the patient such that the tenderness at the counterstrain point is minimized when pressed.[6] The practitioner holds the patient in a maximally relaxed position for 90 seconds and then slowly returns the passive patient to a neutral body position. Success of treatment is evaluated by reassessing both the tender point and any accompanying change in range of motion.
Over 200 tender point locations have been identified to correspond to strain in different muscles and joints.[7] The technique has developed to include variations of manipulations and methods to identify tender points.[4]
Conceptual basis
The idea behind counterstrain states that tender points result from reflexive muscular spasm that correspond to dysfunctional motor segments, due to the compensation of an antagonist muscle responding to agonist muscle over-lengthening.[7]
References
- PMID 24725782.
- ^ Tuckey, Brian; Shah, Jay; Tandon, Hannah (2017). "A New Rationale and Treatment Model for Neuromuscular Tender Points".
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(help) - ^ DiGiovanna, Eileen; Stanley Schiowitz; Dennis J. Dowling (2005) [1991]. "Counterstrain (Chapter 14)". An Osteopathic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment (Third ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 86–88.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-909141-10-0.
- ^ "Glossary of Osteopathic Terminology" (PDF). American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. April 2009. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- PMID 22030379.
- ^ ISBN 978-0683004205.
Sources
- Ward, Robert C. et al.; Foundations for Osteopathic Medicine (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-3497-5.