The Fascial Counterstrain Difference
Imagine Fascia as a Finger Trap and your finger as a body structure: nerve, artery, vein, muscle, bone, organ. In light of recent research we know...
1) Fascia can contract as a muscle does
2) Fascia itself has pain receptors
3) In a clinical setting we cannot produce enough force to break fascia apart
4) If you stretch fascia, it thickens and becomes more inflamed, but if you shorten it... then it brings healing properties
Back to the Finger Trap: Imagine your finger is an artery, and the fascia has contracted to protect it. How well do you think that artery is functioning? Not very. Typically you are told to stretch and, just as the Finger Trap tightens, so does the fascia. If the artery was not functioning well before, how do you think it is doing now? Worse! Now imagine that artery is supplying your bicep, lung, nerve, or any other structure in your body with blood to allow said structure to function. How great do you think the function is? Correct...it's not great.
What Fascial Counterstrain does is slacken the fascia, therefore releasing the tension on the artery and allowing it to function more efficiently. It is gentle. It is precise. It is effective.
'But I've heard of these other techniques performed to "break apart fascia" or "myofascial release". How is this different?'
Always go back to the research. We cannot produce enough force in a clinical setting to break fascia apart. And if we could, why would we want to?! Fascia is now considered its own organ. Some organizations call it a 'Sensory Blanket'. It is made up of both Proprioceptive and Interoceptive Free-Nerve Endings. It's Important!
As far as myofascial release, often it is beneficial...if it is a fascial muscle problem. This is why I enjoy working closely with Massage Therapists. Same goes for Chiropractors. If it is a fascial bone problem, chiro care works great. But...what if it's a fascial nerve problem or a fascial artery problem or a fascial organ problem. These deep fascial restrictions are not going to respond to traditional treatment. It may initially feel better, but it comes back since the underlying cause was not resolved. At this time, Fascial Counterstrain is the only technique I know of that looks at ALL the systems in your body.
1) Fascia can contract as a muscle does
2) Fascia itself has pain receptors
3) In a clinical setting we cannot produce enough force to break fascia apart
4) If you stretch fascia, it thickens and becomes more inflamed, but if you shorten it... then it brings healing properties
Back to the Finger Trap: Imagine your finger is an artery, and the fascia has contracted to protect it. How well do you think that artery is functioning? Not very. Typically you are told to stretch and, just as the Finger Trap tightens, so does the fascia. If the artery was not functioning well before, how do you think it is doing now? Worse! Now imagine that artery is supplying your bicep, lung, nerve, or any other structure in your body with blood to allow said structure to function. How great do you think the function is? Correct...it's not great.
What Fascial Counterstrain does is slacken the fascia, therefore releasing the tension on the artery and allowing it to function more efficiently. It is gentle. It is precise. It is effective.
'But I've heard of these other techniques performed to "break apart fascia" or "myofascial release". How is this different?'
Always go back to the research. We cannot produce enough force in a clinical setting to break fascia apart. And if we could, why would we want to?! Fascia is now considered its own organ. Some organizations call it a 'Sensory Blanket'. It is made up of both Proprioceptive and Interoceptive Free-Nerve Endings. It's Important!
As far as myofascial release, often it is beneficial...if it is a fascial muscle problem. This is why I enjoy working closely with Massage Therapists. Same goes for Chiropractors. If it is a fascial bone problem, chiro care works great. But...what if it's a fascial nerve problem or a fascial artery problem or a fascial organ problem. These deep fascial restrictions are not going to respond to traditional treatment. It may initially feel better, but it comes back since the underlying cause was not resolved. At this time, Fascial Counterstrain is the only technique I know of that looks at ALL the systems in your body.