Techniques
Fascial Counterstrain (FCS)
Fascial Counterstrain is a gentle, precise hands-on technique that restores mobility in connective tissue in every structure in the body. The therapeutic process involves resolving tender points by positionally decompressing structures in the body.
All body tissues, whether muscle, ligament, tendon, vessel, organ or nerve, will respond in a protective contraction when harmed. This ‘spasm’ can be triggered by injury, inflammation, repetitive motion, muscle strain, bacterial or viral load/infection, surgery, or long-term inflammatory responses. This can happen over time without us realizing it, until the body has difficulty compensating, causing pain or dysfunction. Or it can happen more suddenly due to an accident or injury. Reflexive dysfunctions accumulate and can contribute to a wide range of symptoms and conditions.
One of the benefits of FCS is its informative diagnostic process. The practitioner uses the tender points to guide and verify treatment. Positioning the structure in a released, or ‘counterstrain’, position drains trapped inflammation, and resolves the tender point. Clearing the site of inflammation allows the body to return to a less restricted state, improving range of motion, reducing pain, and promoting healing. The treatment is painless and can result in both immediate and long term changes.
Postural Restoration®
Postural Restoration® helps patients access healthy movement patterns through the practice of deliberate activities and interventions that restore the ability to access and release stuck areas of the body. The human body is asymmetrical and is built to move reciprocally. Biomechanical imbalances in movement and position can cause pain and dysfunction. Therapeutic approaches taught by the Postural Restoration Institute® (PRI) address these imbalances. Treatment often starts with activation and re-positioning of the diaphragm, pelvis and ribcage. The capacity to direct breath is a key element to postural balance and biomechanical function. Activities and lifestyle modifications progress over the course of treatment and enable the patient to access healthy movement patterns.