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	The following are common dysfunctions treateable by Neuromuscular Therapy Carpal Tunnel Lower Back Pain Shoulder Pain Tennis Elbow Ankle Pain Headaches Knee Pain Neck Pain Hip Pain Sciatica Muscle Spasm Computer Related Injuries Streching classes for couples and indivudials, ( Private sessions )

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How it works

Strain counterstrain was developed by Lawrence Jones, D.O. It has been used for over 50 years to improve range of motion and flexibility in athletes and other patients. Over the last 30 years, strain and counter strain has been proven successful on all patient populations, including orthopedic, neurological, geriatric, and pediatric. Strain and counter strain technique eliminates protective muscle spasm in skeletal muscles. It is common knowledge that a skeletal muscle like the biceps muscle can go into protective muscle spasm. What is less widely known is protective muscle spasm of smooth muscle. Smooth muscles line all the vessels in our bodies. When smooth muscle goes into spasm, it causes the vessels in our bodies to become rigid and inflexible. This affects blood pressure and overall circulation. In turn, this affects range of motion and joint mobility of neighboring joints because the body tries to protect the compromised vessel.

Strain counterstrain is a manual therapy whereby the clinician uses only his own hands for the treatment of muscle and joint pain. He uses passive body positioning of hypertonic (spasmmed) muscles and dysfunctional joints toward positions of comfort or tissue ease that compress or shorten the offending muscle. The purpose of movement toward shortening is to relax aberrant reflexes that produce the muscle spasm forcing immediate reduction of muscle tone to normal levels. This allows the joints influenced by the now relaxed muscle to function optimally increasing their range of motion and easing muscle and joint pain. Strain Counter strain is an effective but extremely gentle technique because its action for treatment moves the patient's body away from the painful, restricted directions of motion.

How Pain Develops

Nervous System

During pregnancy, the central nervous system of the human fetus is the first system to be developed. The C.N.S. will then innervate and activate every cell in the body, including the structure of the muscular system. The muscles work like cables to mobilize the skeletal system (the bones of the human body). Muscles are not independent structures. They receive messages from the C.N.S. through reflexes, which are currents of electrical impulses. These reflexes form the communication system between the nervous system and the muscle. These messages inform the muscles to contract, to spasm, or to relax. When a muscle is painful, it is because the muscle is in a "protective muscle spasm" initiated by the C.N.S. Hyperactivity of the reflex will hold the muscle in spasm. This reflex is indefatigable. It does not get tired and can last for years. In this way, acute pain becomes a chronic condition. Since the spastic muscle is not able to relax, it is held in a constant contraction, resulting in the continuous shortening of muscle fibers.

Muscular System

Muscle fibers then compress and constrict blood vessels, decreasing the ability of the vessels to carry oxygen and nutrition to the muscle cells and to carry away by-products of metabolism (lactic acid). As a result of this process, the chemical environment in the muscle is changed. It will be saturated by lactic acid, which is a noxious irritant for the nervous system and will cause pain. The muscle has become ischemic (oxygen deprived) and spastic

Joints

Spastic muscles compress the joint (2 or 3 bones attached together), increasing the pressure on the joint during movement. This could affect any joint in the body, including the knee, hip or shoulder. Gradually, the joint itself will deteriorate and may wear out. After many years, it may need to be replaced. Spastic muscles also cause confusion within the C.N.S which can inhibit and weaken other muscles. As the muscular system is thrown out of balance, some muscles will overwork and others may not work at all, resulting in inefficient mobility, excessive energy consumption and pain. Everyday life situations such as long hours sitting at the computer, commuting by car, lack of physical activity, as well as accidental injuries threaten to disrupt muscular balance.