What Is Strain CounterStrain?
Strain Counterstrain (SCS) is an osteopathic manual technique developed by Dr. Lawrence Jones DO in 1955; it's also known as Positional Release Technique. A passive, gentle technique, Strain CounterStrain works well for treating pain and musculoskeletal dysfunction.
Dr. Jones (pictured above) called his pain-release discovery Strain CounterStrain.
A Lucky Accident
Osteopathic Physician Lawrence Jones discovered the benefits of placing an aching body in its most comfortable position as a method of healing in 1955. He realized his patient's pain had eased after positioning (and leaving) him in a way that made him feel best. When the client later stood up, his pain had eased.
SCS is a manual therapy, meaning clinicians use only their hands, to treat muscle, fascia (the tough soft tissue that holds the body together), joint pain and dysfunction. It can use passive body positioning of muscles and dysfunctional joints toward positions of comfort or tissue ease that compress or shorten the offending structure. This relaxes and releases muscle, tendons, and fascia, and allows the joints influenced by these tissues to function optimally increasing its range of motion and easing the associated pain and dysfunction. A practitioner may also treat the tender-points without using the passive body positioning and holding the specific points unique to SCS for a specified length of time.