Diversity is a wonderful thing. So is variability. And we were blessed to have both in abundance last weekend in Norman, OK. We had a very diverse group of movement and rehab specialists, with expertise ranging from working with professional athletes to dancers to pelvic floor specialists.

Variability was in abundance as we discussed getting out of patterned neuromechanical behavior. In order to get out of the performance rut that the L AIC pattern puts some of us in, we need to have variability. As we delved into how to recognize normal mechanics, normal compensatory mechanics, and pathological compensatory mechanics as a result of the L AIC pattern, the need for variability started to become clear. Then we progressed into our muscular patterned behavior conversation as a result of the dominant L AIC pattern. Additionally, we discussed the muscular performance consequence of the L AIC pattern.

As we further discussed testing and repositioning, it became more and more clear that variability in position is the key. We were very fortunate to have a lot of lab time; as much or more lab time as any other course I've taught. It afforded us the opportunity to feel the effect our human asymmetry has on our position, as well as our muscular performance. As a result, our ability to be variable in our movement patterns became our clear goal.

Many thanks to Alicia Oberholzer and Dustin Rhoades for allowing us to use them as our models for demonstration purposes. It was a great pleasure to have everyone ask so many great questions. Stuart Nichols, Kim Callahan, Deb Clark, and Kathy Bonar were particularly helpful in keeping us on track, re-stating, and offering their insight into our deep dive into the necessity of movement variability and how to achieve it. As always, we need more "Bruce Wayne" and less "Batman" in our lives, and make sure you have the "Good Boy Band" working for you!

Engaging into discussions regarding right lateral superior and posterior inferior chest wall expansion is so rewarding when the engagers truly want to understand the reasoning behind the intent and the outcomes purpose.  Regardless how we feel about internal physiologic or physical movement of our anatomy, we all stay alive through compression and decompression.  This course reviews the neuro-mechanical patterns of basic diaphragmatic decompression, i.e. expansion, and corresponding direction of compressive forces, i.e. abdominals and body position.  Having 50 engaged class participants from seven different areas of study, allowed all of us to compress and decompress not only in the lab setting, but during questions and answer sessions, that were as valuable, in my opinion as the material in the power point and in the manual.    Joseph Turic DPT, Aleena Kanner ATC, NASM, Beth Lewis and many others in the lab setting were so helpful in expanding minds, behavior and concepts.  Navin Hettiarachchi ATC, Dip MT, MCMT, ATC, PRT, CSCS and Sean Light MS, RSCC, LMT, CS, PRT, as lab assistants,  expand anyone or everyone that gets close to them with their smiles alone.   It was so wonderful to have Gail Wetzler DPT, EDO, BI-D, a very prominent Barral Institute instructor,  in attendance.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to get to know her better.  We were scheduled last year to present in Puerto Rico at the AAPMD conference, before Maria hit.   Please read my tweet on how people like her expand my moral compass.

Finally, I want to thank all the wonderful people at Finish Line Physical Therapy.

They not only allow us to expand PRI in the New York City region, again,  but actually took part in expanding this course by reviewing their lab discoveries, and by expanding my stomach through feeding me the peanut butter filled pretzels!  These have become a Finish Line staple of expansion. Thank you.  

Ron