Introduction
Standard Massage Techniques
Deep Tissue Massage/Remedial Massage
Sports Massage
Trigger Point Therapy
Active Release Technique (ART)
Myofascial Release
Positional Release (Strain Counterstrain)
Visceral Manipulation

What is strain-counterstrain?

Strain-counterstrain is a massage technique developed by Lawrence Jones in 1955. It was originally called “positional release technique” and is designed to alleviate chronic muscle spasms and other orthopaedic conditions. Every muscle in our body has muscle spindles. These tiny receptors are responsible for how loose or tight the muscle is when at rest. Any unanticipated movement that stretches or strains the muscle can cause the muscle spindles to stay in an overactive/protective mode, which makes the muscle contract. As a result, the muscle tightens and the joints become misaligned. This is how spasms start.

This technique is commonly used by chiropractors and we regularly use it as part of our treatment programme at our clinics in Chester and St Asaph

How does strain-counterstrain help?

Strain-counterstrain fixes the muscle spindles by passively moving the affected muscle and  joints and taking the tension out of the muscle spindles. This allows the muscle spindles to rearrange themselves. It relaxes and puts the muscles at ease and the helps the joints restore their normal mobility. Strain-counterstrain is a manual therapy that relieves muscle spasms by moving the affected area towards a comfortable position.

The strain-counterstrain technique is used to treat different types of orthopaedic conditions such as acute trauma caused by sports injuries, vehicular accidents, and certain surgeries. It is particularly effective in treating chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, as well as headaches. This massage technique is so gentle and painless that it is safe and effective when used on infants and the elderly.

Strain-counterstrain is also effective in treating the following conditions:

• Any pain caused by hypermobility
• Osteoporosis
• Pelvic pain
• Postoperative pain
• Stress fractures
• Torticollis for infants

Introduction
Standard Massage Techniques
Deep Tissue Massage/Remedial Massage
Sports Massage
Trigger Point Therapy
Active Release Technique (ART)
Myofascial Release
Positional Release (Strain Counterstrain)
Visceral Manipulation