Claim: Strain and counterstrain is a hands-on treatment that attempts to alleviate muscle and connective tissue tightness where the involved tissue is "slackened" causing a relaxation of the "spasm".
Evidence: It is a hands-on treatment that attempts to alleviate muscle and connective tissue tightness by the use of very specific treatment positions held for 90 seconds (can be held for up to 3 minutes in neurological patients). During the procedure, the involved tissue is "slackened" causing a relaxation of the "spasm" which, in turn, allows local areas of inflammation, trapped within the painful tissue to dissipate.