Strain counterstrain (SCS) is a type of indirect osteopathic manipulative soft tissue technique developed by Lawrence Jones in 1955 to passively treat musculoskeletal pain, decreased range of motion, and somatic dysfunction by bringing about a change in cellular function of the tissues being treated. Strain counterstrain uses palpation and physician feedback to manipulate the soft tissues or joints into a position of ease, away from the restrictive barrier, usually by compressing or shortening the area of dysfunction, encouraging the body to relax a tender-point. A tender-point is a small, round tissue texture change found in muscles, tendons, ligaments, or fascial tissues that is tender or painful when palpated at a pressure that would not usually cause pain.

Facilitated positional release (FPR), developed in 1990 by Stanley Schiowitz, is similar to strain counterstrain in that the physician places the patient in a position of ease based on palpation of the tender-point. However, it differs in that an additional activating force is applied by the physician to compress or distract for a much shorter period than standard SCS techniques to achieve a state of palpated ease (relaxation of the tender-point).