31/10/2025
One of the common techniques I use when treating patient is Fascial Counterstrain. This technique has been developed to specifically address the following:
Please contact me for an appointment, or book online via: https://www.jaimebarryosteopath.com.au/
🌿 GENERAL SUMMARY — Patient/Education Use
What Is Interstitial Inflammatory Stasis (IIS)?
When the body experiences stress, injury, or illness, tiny chemicals called inflammatory messengers (cytokines) are released to start healing.
If this system stays “switched on” too long, it can overload the body’s drainage and nerve networks, especially the fascia (the body’s connective tissue web).
How It Develops
* Trigger: injury, infection, surgery, or ongoing stress.
* Inflammation: chemicals like serotonin, interleukins, and TNF-alpha are released.
* Nerve Activation: pain sensors send constant signals to the spinal cord.
* Reflexes: the nervous system tightens nearby muscles and blood vessels to “protect” the area.
* Drainage Stops: lymph flow slows and swelling or stiffness develops.
* Stasis: trapped inflammation causes pain, fatigue, and tissue tightness that may spread.
Typical Symptoms
* Ongoing or spreading muscle pain
* Areas that are sore to light pressure (tender points)
* Muscle stiffness or spasm
* Headaches, jaw tension, or shoulder/neck tightness
* Digestive upset (IBS-like symptoms)
* Brain fog, anxiety, or poor sleep
* Tingling, sciatica, or limb weakness
Why Muscles “Guard”
* When nerves sense irritation, they tell the muscles to tighten and protect the area — like a built-in brace.
* Over time, this “guarding” reduces blood flow and healing, keeping pain signals active.
* How Fascial Counterstrain Helps
Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) is a gentle manual therapy designed to:
* Calm the nerve reflexes that drive tightness and pain
* Improve blood and lymph flow to clear inflammation
* Restore movement and reduce protective tension
* Support the body’s natural healing from chronic stress or injury
When to Be Cautious
Therapists avoid direct Counterstrain work over areas of:
- Active infection or recent surgery
- Pregnancy (abdomen/pelvis)
- Cancer or aneurysm
- Implanted devices (pacemaker, stent, IUDs)
Common Causes of Fascial Stress
- Past injuries, surgeries, posture habits, infection, or food sensitivities can all overload the fascia and its drainage systems.
An Osteopath, working in Port Macquarie Jaime Barry treats a wide range of conditions (joint pain, headaches, chronic conditions) with the aim to help you return to living the life you want to, with less pain/discomfort and improving mobility and strength.
