RESEARCH GOALS
To help First Responders, Active-Duty Military and Veterans who are suffering from the effects of traumatic stress.
Gain recognition in medical community so that we may attract more practitioners to learn Counterstrain.
To compile evidence proving efficacy of Counterstrain as a statistically significant therapeutic modality as shown by improvements in psychological assessment interviews and outcome measures. Phase 2 of our study will include functional neuroimaging.
HOW IT WORKS
One of the many benefits of Counterstrain is that it can be used to treat dysfunction in any of the body’s soft tissue systems. This includes the body’s master system, the nervous system. The nervous system controls the body’s pain perception, movements, senses, digestion, vascular flow, cognition, proprioception and emotional responses. Thus unimpeded function of the nervous system is vital for our body to maintain homeostasis, to function normally and to remain disease free. The specialized covering of the nervous system, like all soft tissues in the body, is enveloped entirely in deep fascia (connective tissue). The specialized fascia of the nervous system is called the epineurium, Over 50% of every nerve is actually made of neural fascia. It covers and protects all of the nerves in the human body including those related to the muscles, skin, organs and vessels. The epineurium is richly innervated with nerves that sense threat and its job is to protect the nerve by contracting.
Are you interested in contributing to the study?
Take a look at our Participation Guide
WHY DO TREATMENT?
How does Counterstrain help?
Counterstrain practitioners are able to assess your body’s protective mechanisms through motion testing of your cranial bones (aka skull). These protective mechanisms, otherwise known as protective reflex spasms, will occur as a response to trauma (mechanical, temperature or chemical). Once these spasms occur, they will not shut off, even if the body is no longer in danger, until you positionally relax or release the area that was in danger.
What is an example of this happening?
For example, if your leg gets hit over the femoral nerve, the epineurium (coating around the nerve) will tighten around it to protect it. Also, your muscles surrounding the nerve will go into spasm to protect the nerve, like popsicle sticks on a broken finger. Unless that nerve is positionally released, the epineurium and the muscles will stay in spasm and then the leg becomes dysfunctional (it will not work as well).
What is dysfunction?
Dysfunction is when things are not functioning normally. It is as simple as that. The best way to achieve normal function again is to tell the body that whatever tissue is experiencing a protective spasm is no longer in danger. We can achieve this by relaxing the tension in fascia surrounding the offended tissue. When we do this, it effectively shuts off the nervous system’s message to protect.
HOW IT HELPS?
In a situation such as witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, your of autonomic nervous system gets activated and can stay “turned on” until it is positionally released. After such a release, patients have experienced improvement in sleep, pain control, organ function, mental and emotional symptoms. If the trauma is ongoing, Counterstrain is an excellent modality to keep the autonomic nervous system functioning normally, instead of remaining “turned on” at all times.
Counterstrain involves the assessment of cranial bones to help determine what areas need to be treated followed by gentle holds to release tension in the fascia around offended structures, the treatment is painless and involves 30-45 second holds/glides to release tension.
