Counterstrain San Diego

08/24/2026

We truly value your feedback! If you’ve been a patient with us, please consider sharing your experience by visiting the link in our bio. Your testimonials not only inspire us but also help others seeking care. Thank you for being a part of our community! 🫶🏼

08/13/2026

C-sections are one of the most common abdominal surgeries performed in the U.S., yet routine inpatient physical therapy is not typically part of postpartum care.

Think about that.

A woman can undergo a major abdominal surgery, become responsible for caring for a newborn, and then be sent home without ever being taught how to safely get in and out of bed, move without unnecessarily stressing her incision, pick up her baby, or begin returning to normal movement.

This isn’t about saying every woman needs extensive physical therapy after a C-section. It’s about making education and access to appropriate support available when women need it most.

We need to advocate for better postpartum care and for physical therapists to have a greater role in the hospital setting after C-sections.

If you’re pregnant or planning a C-section, ask your hospital: “Is physical therapy available after my C-section?”

And if it isn’t, ask why.

Because postpartum care should include more than simply making sure mom and baby are medically stable before sending them home.

We can—and should—do better for postpartum women.

07/22/2026

One of the simplest things you can do after a C-section—or any abdominal surgery—is learn how to protect your incision during everyday movements.

Activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, rolling in bed, standing up, or lifting your baby all increase the pressure inside your abdomen. While you can’t avoid those moments, you can support your body through them.

Applying gentle pressure over your incision (often called splinting) can help provide support to the healing tissues, reduce discomfort, and make movement feel more comfortable during recovery.

Healing isn’t about avoiding movement—it’s about moving in a way that respects the healing process.

Whether you’re preparing for a C-section, recovering from one, or healing from another abdominal surgery, this is a simple technique worth keeping in your toolbox.

07/14/2026

After a few months away, I’m finally back in the clinic! ✨🙌🏼

In this video, I’m sharing a little about my birth story and the experience of having a scheduled C-section at UCSD. Birth rarely goes exactly as we imagine, and mine was no exception—but it was still an incredibly positive experience that I’m grateful to share.

Becoming a mom has given me an even deeper appreciation for the physical and emotional changes that come with pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. It’s strengthened my passion for helping others navigate these seasons with confidence and support.

I’m excited to be back and look forward to caring for both new and returning patients!

04/20/2026

https://youtu.be/ydzuLIi2nSA

The Hidden Cause of Knee Pain

04/13/2026

PRENATAL PILATES:

Benefits include improved:

*Ribcage expansion and thoracic mobility

As your body adjusts to a growing baby, the ribcage must widen and the load on your spine increases. Pilates can help you improve the mobility of your ribcage and upper+mid-back to offset these changes, assisting in maintaining the proper intra-abdominal pressure to support your spine.

*Pelvic girdle stabilization:

As your ligaments become more lax and the load on your spine increases, stability from the muscles in your pelvic girdle is crucial. Pilates rehab helps improve core strength and pelvic floor function to address symptoms including low back pain, p***c symphysis dysfunction, and urinary incontinence.

*Pelvic floor relaxation and hip mobilization:

During labor your pelvic floor must relax and lengthen, allowing your baby to descend through the birth canal. Pilates rehab can assist with improving both pelvic floor relaxation and hip mobility in preparation for labor and delivery.

Additional benefits of prenatal Pilates:

Improved sleep quality, pain, depression, and other maternal health issues outcomes during pregnancy (Turan Alagöz, A., Gercek, H., Unuvar, B.S. et al.The effects of pilates method in pregnant women: scoping review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 25, 485 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07622-z)

12/18/2025

Happy Holidays to those who celebrate! Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season from our team at Counterstrain San Diego 🎄🕎 ✨May your holidays be filled with love, joy, and relaxation. Thank you for being part of our community! We are so grateful for each and every one of you.

Clinic Updates:

Dr. Mary Haas will be starting her maternity leave at the end of next week🤰Her last day in the clinic is 12/26 and she has limited availability, so schedule your sessions now!

We have an addition at Counterstrain San Diego! Mark Noble has joined the team and is now accepting at the North County location.

We all look forward to continuing to provide Counterstrain and Pilates services to you in the new year!✨

12/05/2025

Growing this baby has been such a gift — and it’s been supported by an incredible team!
Throughout pregnancy I’ve leaned on pelvic floor physical therapy (with myself 😂), Counterstrain treatments and Prenatal Pilates Rehab from my amazing colleagues, and Prenatal Acupuncture with at Fern Acupuncture in Vista!

My husband and I also completed a virtual hypnobirthing class through , and we’re excited for two more upcoming classes: Empowered Childbirth with and a Prenatal Breastfeeding Essentials class with .

So grateful for this community of providers who have helped me feel strong, informed, and truly supported throughout this journey. 💛✨

09/23/2025

👏 Huge shoutout to our very own Dr. Kyle Kusunose for teaching the Cartilage & Superficial Fascia course through The Jones Institute this past weekend! We love seeing our practitioners share their expertise and make such a big impact on the next generation of Counterstrainers across the country. 🌎💪

✨ Why does this matter? Treatment of these structures can support recovery and relief from a wide range of issues — including TMJ dysfunction, joint pain, disc herniations, labral tears, meniscus injuries, inner ear conditions, pelvic floor hypertonicity, and so much more.

👉 If you or someone you know is dealing with any of these concerns, head to the link in our bio to schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation — or better yet, an initial evaluation with one of our practitioners!

09/17/2025

We truly value your feedback! If you’ve been a patient with us, please consider sharing your experience by visiting the link in our bio. Your testimonials not only inspire us but also help others seeking care. Thank you for being a part of our community! 🫶🏼

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