Service
Strain / Counterstrain
A gentle, passive hands-on technique that uses positions of comfort to settle tender, guarded tissue.
About strain / counterstrain at Peak
Strain / counterstrain is a gentle manual technique originally developed in osteopathic practice. The therapist locates a specific tender point, then slowly positions the body so that the tissue around it is shortened and unloaded — a position that should feel markedly more comfortable, not less.
That position is held for a short time, usually around ninety seconds, before the therapist slowly returns the area to neutral. Nothing is forced and nothing is pushed through pain; the technique works by taking tension off the tissue rather than by stretching it.
Because it is passive and low-force, it is often a good fit when an area is too irritable for deeper hands-on work, when muscle guarding is limiting progress, or when a patient simply does not tolerate more aggressive treatment. It is used as one part of a plan, alongside active exercise.
What to expect
- Your therapist locating tender points and explaining what they are checking.
- Slow, guided positioning that should feel comfortable throughout.
- Each position held briefly before a slow return to neutral.
- Reassessment of the same points so you can tell what changed.
- Active exercise afterward to hold onto the change.
Related care
Other services that often go with this
Manual Therapy
Skilled hands-on treatment used alongside active exercise to improve comfort and restore usable motion.
Orthopedic and Spine Rehabilitation
Evaluation and treatment for joint, muscle, and tendon problems, neck and back pain, and recovery after orthopedic surgery.
IASTM
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization — targeted soft-tissue treatment using specialized tools.
Educational information only
Questions about strain / counterstrain?
Call the clinic and we'll talk through your situation and whether an evaluation makes sense.