The practitioners at Complete Health Osteopathy are dedicated to using the most efficient and effective techniques to address the cause of your pain and restricted movement. While there are several ways to approach treatment, we have found Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) to be the most comprehensive, powerful and effective manual therapy technique currently available. FCS has been developed by Brian Tuckey PT, OCS, JSCCI (USA) over the last 25+ years, furthering the work of Dr Lawrence Jones DO. Using the embryological and neural relationships that exist in the body, FCS allows your practitioner to determine the root cause of your pain and tension (this often isn’t the area most afflicted by pain). FCS can be applied to all systems of the body and comprises over 900 specific releases, each targeting an individual structure. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, arteries, veins, lymphatics, nerves, fascia and the connective tissues of the internal organs can all generate a pain message resulting in local inflammation, muscle tightness (known as muscle guarding) and tissue dysfunction. FCS embraces the patient-centred care model and incorporates the most up to date evidence to continually improve and advance the technique.
What to expect
The consultation will include:
- A short interview to discuss your reason for seeking treatment. We will ask questions about the timeline and nature of your symptoms as well as questions about your wider medical history. This helps us determine to the most likely diagnosis and allows us to identify any factors that may impact the way we treat you. FCS is a very safe technique however there are some conditions that may impact our approach, including some that may mean we advise that it is best you seek alternative care prior to any FCS treatment. All information discussed is covered by the Health Records Act 2001 and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. Personal information discussed during the consultation will not be shared with a 3rd party unless explicitly permitted by the patient.
- A Physical assessment to evaluate how you are moving; restrictions within the joints of the spine, pelvis, arms and legs; tissue texture including muscle tightness, swelling and changes in colour or temperature. You may be directed to perform specific movements as well as the practitioner physically assessing the tissue with hands-on movement of the joints and tissue palpation.
- Treatment. The treatment cycle will involve a continuous process of local assessment, body positioning, gentle pressure to perform the specific tissue release, and re-testing to observe the desired change. You will be asked for feedback during the treatment process to ensure maximum comfort. Feedback from our patients often includes their appreciation of how gentle the technique is when compared to other techniques they have previously experienced. Determining the key area for treatment can sometimes be a little uncomfortable as local inflammation often results in tenderness in the tissues, however, the releases should NOT hurt. It is important to let your practitioner know immediately if the release increases pain either in the local area or in other parts of your body.
Throughout the consultation we will discuss what we are doing and why we are doing it. If at any stage of the process you have questions, are not comfortable or wish to stop please let your practitioner know straight away.
Your autonomy and safety will always remain our first priority.
What to bring
- Any recent scans (X-rays, MRI, CT etc) relevant to your issue.
- Any referrals such as Team Care Arrangements.
- Wear light-weight, unrestrictive clothing – for most releases it will not be necessary to disrobe but tight clothing such as jeans can make treatment more difficult.