One of the many techniques being done in osteopathic medicine is counterstrain technique. It is a simple technique that focuses on relieving pain through the tender points of the body. Since it is a gentle to the body, it can be recommended to almost any patient.
Counterstrain focuses on reliving somatic dysfunction in the body. You know you have this condition if you cannot move or use one part of your body well. For instance, when your muscles are sore, movement is limited because of the pain. The same is true when the joints and the nerves are affected.
Somatic dysfunction can alter your daily routines. The pain you feel may become too much that it will hinder you from doing your daily activities. For instance, if your muscles are sore, you will not be able to perform physical activities that are involved in your job. This is especially true for people who are working for blue-collared jobs. In the same way, if some joints in your body are not performing well, your movements will be limited and moving will be very tough.
The main idea of this technique is to locate the tender point in the body. The tender point is the position of the body where the pain is at its maximum. It is the position where you will feel the most extreme pain. The physician will guide you into reaching the tender point. Once it is reached, the position will be released little by little until the pain subsides. The process can be repeated several times until the pain is completely removed. Once the pain is no longer felt, the physician will guide you in the neutral position.
There are terms that you need to remember when dealing with counterstrain. One of the most important terms is hypertonicity. This is the condition where the muscle tension is at its highest. This is what happens when your body reaches the tender point. The muscles and the nerves in the affected area become compressed and tight. The body automatically reaches the hypertonicity level as a reflex or response to pain. The muscles become tight in order to prevent further pain from happening. However, while the body is protecting you from feeling too much pain, some areas and functions of the body are affected. For instance, as the muscles become tight, the blood vessels become constricted. Because of this, the circulation of blood in your body will slow down. The transportation of oxygen and other nutrients will become slow as well. This can lead to fatigue and sluggishness. The administering of counterstrain is usually done is several sessions. One session may not be enough to effectively remove the pain completely.
It is important to choose a skilled and reputable osteopath for the technique. This is because the technique involves locating pain and diminishing it. Find a physician such as a physiotherapist or osteopath that has a good record in his field. This way, you can be sure that your condition will really become better after a few sessions.