stress positions are bascily placing the body in such a position that it is painful. and you do this for a long period of time. hog tying (tying the hands and feets together either by binding or by tying a shaft to the hands and having it placed behind the feet. having the prisnoner lean against a wall on his finger tips. short stick tying (placing a wooden pole on the soliders and tying the hands to it) after a time. thought i can happen quite quick, try it for yourself. it becomes amazingly painful. things like seen in abu gahrib of tying people to the a cage so they have to stand or hang for huge amounts of time is also in the same category. so is the strappado.

it's a technique called stress and duress that the americans use. you place the prisoner in the most stressful, harassing, mentally and physically wearing him down. it is supposed to invoke a feling of fear, helplessness, powerlessness and humiliation.