Immediate Quantitative Sensory Testing of the Fascial Counterstrain Method: A Case Study

Quantitative sensory testing (QST), including temporal summation of pain (TSP) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) assessments, was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic validity and immediate therapeutic efficacy of the manual therapy technique Fascial Counterstrain (FCS). A single patient with persistent lower back and referred leg pain was evaluated and treated by a certified FCS practitioner. A clinical diagnosis of left S1–S2 radiculitis (FCS criteria) was established and corroborated by elevated pre-treatment TSP and reduced PPT measures in the affected dermatomes, indicating nerve root irritation and central sensitization. Immediate post-treatment TSP and PPT assessments demonstrated near-complete normalization of wind-up in the involved S1 and S2 dermatomes, along with a substantial improvement in three-trial-average PPT measurements of the S1–S2 musculature from 2.4 kg/cm2 to 6.1 kg/cm2. This case report provides preliminary evidence supporting the diagnostic process and immediate post-treatment efficacy of FCS in patients with lower back pain and central sensitization.