Thoracic spine counterstrain
Page created: March 04, 2021
Thoracic spine counterstrain
OMM
OMM
Biomechanics: Muscle contractions
Components of the osteopathic structural examination
Fryette laws
Trigger points
Diagnostic skills
Introduction to muscle energy
Introduction to counterstrain
Introduction to facilitated positional release
Introduction to myofascial release
Introduction to high velocity low amplitude (HVLA)
Diagnosing cervical somatic dysfunction
Spurling test
Cervical muscle energy treatment
Cervical spine counterstrain
Cervical spine HVLA
Still technique for the cervical spine
Cervical spine facilitated positional release
Cervical spine myofascial release
Other cervical spine treatments
Diagnosing thoracic spine somatic dysfunction
Thoracic muscle energy treatment
Thoracic spine counterstrain
Thoracic spine HVLA
Still technique for the thoracic spine
Thoracic spine facilitated positional release
Thoracic spine myofascial release
Other thoracic spine treatments
Diagnosing lumbar spine somatic dysfunction
Lumbar muscle energy treatment
Lumbar spine counterstrain
Lumbar spine HVLA
Still technique for the lumbar spine
Lumbar spine facilitated positional release
Lumbar spine myofascial release
Other lumbar spine treatments
Diagnosing sacral somatic dysfunction
Sacrum muscle energy treatment
Sacrum counterstrain
Sacrum myofascial release
Diagnosing pelvis somatic dysfunction
Pelvis muscle energy treatment
Pelvis counterstrain
Other pelvis treatments
Diagnosing lower limb somatic dysfunction
Special tests for the lower limb
Lower limb muscle energy treatment
Lower limb counterstrain
Lower limb HVLA
Lower limb myofascial release
Other lower limb treatments
Diagnosing upper limb somatic dysfunction
Special tests for the upper limb
Upper limb muscle energy treatment
Upper limb counterstrain
Upper limb HVLA
Upper limb myofascial release
Other upper limb treatments
Diagnosing rib somatic dysfunction
Muscle energy for rib somatic dysfunction
Rib counterstrain
Rib HVLA
Other rib treatments
Viscerosomatics and facilitation
General visceral techniques
Chapman points
Primary respiratory mechanism
Cranial osteopathy: Cranial nerves
Diagnosing cranial somatic dysfunction
Cranial treatments
Treatment of the lymphatics
Notes
Thoracic spine
Thoracic spine counterstrain
ANTERIOR THORACIC (AT) | ||||
| TENDER POINT | ANATOMICAL POSITION | TREATMENT POSITION | ||
| AT1 | Midline at jugular notch | Flex | ||
| AT2 | Midline at junction of manubrium and sternum | Flex | ||
| AT3 | On sternum at level of costal cartilage related to named vertebra | Flex | ||
| AT4 | On sternum at level of costal cartilage related to named vertebra | Flex | ||
| AT5 | About 2–3 cm above xiphisternal junction | Flex | ||
| AT6 | At xiphisternal junction | Flex | ||
| AT7 | Tip of xiphoid and inferolateral on either side (3 points) | Seated Flex, side bend toward, rotate away (F STRA) | ||
| AT8 | About 4–5 cm inferior to xiphoid process (halfway between AT7 and AT9) | Seated Flex, side bend toward, rotate away (F STRA) | ||
| AT9 | About 1–2 cm superolateral to umbilicus | Seated Flex, side bend toward, rotate away (F STRA) | ||
| AT10 | About 1–2 cm inferolateral to umbilicus | Supine Flex, side bend toward, rotate away (F STRA) | ||
| AT11 | About 4 cm inferolateral to umbilicus | Supine Flex, side bend toward, rotate away (F STRA) | ||
| AT12 | Superomedial surface of iliac crest on mid-axillary line | Supine Flex, side bend toward, rotate away (F STRA) | ||
Figure 1. Locations of the anterior thoracic (AT) counterstrain points.
POSTERIOR & LATERAL POSTERIOR THORACIC (PT & LPT) | ||||
| TENDER POINT | ANATOMICAL POSITION | TREATMENT POSITION | ||
| PT1–PT12 | Lateral edge of inferior aspect of respective spinous process | Extend, side bend away, rotate away (E SARA) | ||
| LPT1–LPT12 | Lateral aspect of respective transverse process | Extend, side bend away, rotate toward (E SART) | ||
Figure 2. Locations of the posterior (green) and lateral posterior (purple) thoracic counterstrain tender points.
Author: Arman Israelyan, OMS-III
Editor: Matt Lipinski, DO
Illustrator: Aileen Lin, MScBMC
Editor: Robyn Hughes, MScBMC
Key Takeaways
Thoracic spine counterstrain is a manual therapy technique used to relieve pain and restore mobility to the thoracic spine. It is a gentle and non-invasive technique that involves finding tender points in the muscles and applying a precise amount of pressure to those points to release tension and improve range of motion. Thoracic spine counterstrain is a safe and effective technique that can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including back pain, postural problems, and musculoskeletal disorders. It is often used in conjunction with other manual therapy techniques, such as myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and stretching, to provide a comprehensive treatment approach.