COUNTERSTRAIN

 

While we are talking about treatments, I thought I would add a short blurb about counterstrain as there is a possibility that there may be questions about this treatment on the exam, which may include specific counterstrain points. However it is WAY beyond the scope of this book to include every counterstrain point in the body; again please refer to one of the fine texts available for this.

 

Counterstrain is an indirect myofascial technique aimed at relieving the neurological component of the neurovascular/musculoskeletal somatic dysfunction. By placing a spastic muscle (a counterstrain tender point) in a position of ease by shortening the muscle even further than it can contract by itself for 90 seconds, this will enable the gamma receptors in the muscle to "reset," Then after the 90 seconds are up, and we return the patient to their normal position, the nerve impulses that cause the muscle to spasm will have been shut off. This will cause the muscle to relax and stop the pain.

 

The Five Basic Steps in Counterstrain Are:

 

1.         Find the Tender Point

2.         Position for Maximal Comfort & Release

3.         Hold for 90 Seconds

4.         Return Slowly

5.         Recheck the area.

 

If you can simply remember to "wrap around the point" then you will do fairly well on these questions. In other words, if a point is ANTERIOR, then you know you will have to FLEX the patient to wrap around this point. If a point is on the right side, then you will need to sidebend them right for the correction, and so on.

 

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