Fascial Counterstrain is a unique approach to soft tissue manipulation that is designed to identify and correct dysfunction in all of the body’s systems including the vascular, visceral, nervous and musculoskeletal systems.

Fascial Counterstrain or FCS for short, utilizes diagnostic tender points to identify reflexive muscle guarding in the body.  Reflex muscle contractions occur in skeletal muscle, smooth muscle or in the body’s deep fascia structures due to a variety of reasons including trauma, surgery, postural strain, repetitive motion, even in response to an inflammatory diet.  

What conditions can it help?

This form of reflex muscular tightness, once present, can contribute to a multitude of symptoms and conditions. Some examples include acute/chronic musculoskeletal pain in ALL regions of the body.

• Chronic Edema
• Weakness
• Digestive Dysfunction 
• Neuropathies 
• Migraine or Headaches
• Peripheral Arterial Disease 
• Balance Disorders

How Does it Work?

Practitioners of FCS look for specific tender spots on the body that tell which particular fascial structure is involved, similar to how a road map tells which road leads where.  The therapist will then shorten the fascial structure manually until they feel a “pulsing” at the tender point. Once held in position, the tightened muscle, tendon or fascia is reset to normal thereby releasing inflammation and tenderness of the area.  As complicated as it sounds, it’s actually pretty simple and very effective.

What does it feel like?

FCS is very gentle and other than slight pressure from the therapist’s hand - it is almost painless.  Often times there are certain positions (head flexed or rotated, arm resting across the body or knees bent) maintained to facilitate the “release” but nothing that would cause pain. The resetting of the fascia is immediate and relaxing to the body.

How much is needed?

The answer depends on many things including lifestyle, diet and overall health.  Just as you would maintain your car, hair or manicure - your body needs maintenance too!  There IS no quick fix or magic pill.  Good health requires a little effort and discipline. FCS is a MUST for body and health maintenance because it works on every system of the body - nerve, muscle, vascular, lymphatic, bone and visceral. 

It’s quick, effective and painless