A system (100) for manipulating implants coupled by a cord (108) includes a tensioner (102) and a counter tensioner (104). The tensioner includes a nose assembly (110) and a cord lock assembly (112) for applying tension to the cord. The nose assembly includes a piston (226) having a lumen (228) extending therethrough for receiving the cord and a spring (230) positionable in contact with an indicator region (120) of the piston. The counter tensioner is releasably coupleable to a head of an implant at a distal end thereof and guides the cord to a port proximate the proximal end thereof, the port for receiving the nose assembly. The counter tensioner enables translation of the implant relative to another implant implanted in an adjacent or nearby vertebrae. The indicator region of the piston is visible through a window in a tensioner main body and indicates cord tension when the nose assembly of the tensioner is coupled to the port of the counter tensioner and engaged with the cord.
