| Question |
Answer |
| what are the advantages of counterstrain? |
convenient, gentle, symptom specific, rapid response in acute settings |
| what are the disadvantages of counterstrain? |
less articular specificity, slow, works only for some dysfunctions |
| how is counterstrain diagnosed? |
by tender-point (treat worst first) |
| how is counterstrain treated? |
by positioning |
| what is the emphasis of counterstrain? |
neuromuscular resetting |
| pain identified in osteopathic exam is what? |
a 10 |
| pain or sensitivity indicates what? where are the tender point locations? |
pain or sensitivity reflects strain. tender point locations can be found at muscle origins and insertions, mid-belly of a muscle, or neural referred pain |
| counterstrain protocol requires positioning to reduce pain to what number? |
a 2 |
| how long should the position of ease be held? |
at least 90 seconds |
| what is the recipe for recall? |
identify tender point, passive positioning to a "2", monitor location, hold for 90 seconds, passive return to neutral, retest and retreat |
| what is the limit for tenderpoint treatment per visit? |
5-6 tenderpoints |
| what are the 4 most important lower extremity tenderpoints? |
Piriformis, Lateral trochanter, Medial meniscus, Patellar tendon |
| what is the exam protocol? |
start with history, identify tender point, sometimes by palpable nodular edema, survey of adjacent tender points for primary, label this “10" |