Strain-Counterstrain & Jones Point Therapy

Strain-Counterstrain & Jones Point Therapy is a gentle and quick hands on therapy that identifies tender points within your fascia which cause dysfunction and pain.

The great thing about this treatment is that is only takes 90 seconds to relieve the pain of a specific point. Amazingly, yet scientifically, this technique eliminates the tender point/s and the associated strain reflexes which are causing neuromuscular (nerve and muscle) dysfunction along a fascial chain. These techniques can be used to treat structural dysfunctions of the pelvis, knee, ankle and foot.

Learning from Industry Leaders
Our podiatrist have been trained by Haydn Gambling who is an Adelaide based physiotherapist with over 20 years experience in treating clients with chronic pain and dysfunction. He has taught extensively in Australia and Europe since co-founding the Manual Therapy Institute in 1999. He is currently teaching an Integrative Manual Therapy series at Nuffield Health in the UK and Back in Motion in Australia and is undergoing certification to teach for the Jones Institute in Australia.

Why treat the fascia?

The fascia is a network of connective tissue that holds the body together. It provides support for the joints, muscles, blood vessels and nerves and is continuous from head to toe. Fascia provides stability without it we would collapse. It creates the lubrication to allow frictionless motion and provides the substances that contribute to the immune system. Research has also shown that fascia is embedded with nerve endings, smooth muscle cells and specialised “myofibroblasts” to allow it to contract. When fascia holds this contraction in a protective reflex, dysfunction and pain often result.

Commonly used fascial techniques

Counterstrain (SCS)

Counterstrain is a manual therapy technique directed at the neuro-muscular and neuro-fascial elements in the body. It’s thought to relieve pain by switching off protective reflexes created within the nervous system during trauma. Dysfunction is identified by locating tender points in the muscular and fascial tissues. Having located a tender point, the practitioner takes the tissue into the direction that allows it to release its tension and the tender point is felt only as pressure rather than exquisite pain. This position of maximum ease is held for 90 seconds and then returned slowly to a neutral position to not “switch back on” the protective reflex. If the technique has been successful, the tender point will be markedly less painful, the tissue will hold less tension and the barrier to motion will be significantly reduced.

Myofascial Release (MFR)

Myofascial Release (MFR) is a manual therapy which focuses on the fascia of the musculoskeletal system. Where acute injury or recurrent microtrauma occurs, the fascia responds by inflammation which can lead to the formation of scar tissue. The surrounding fascial tissues may distort to unload this irritated region creating patterns of imbalance in related muscle groups. Some muscles may get progressively tighter and stronger while the opposite muscles become longer and weaker further perpetuating the fascial distortion pattern. Direct MFR techniques loads the myofascial tissues with a constant tension while indirect MFR techniques guide the tissues into the direction of ease. If successful, a neuro-reflexive release occurs producing greater motion and less pain in the tissues.

Soft tissue techniques

Soft tissue techniques are manual techniques which focus on the muscular and fascia of the musculoskeletal system. Incorporating massage, stretching and ischaemic pressures, the therapeutic goal is to reduce muscle spasm, fluid congestion and tissue immobility.