Science

Without a doubt, the opportunity to present the science of PRI to a live group of movement professionals was a great sign to me that we are getting closer and closer to the resumption of our previous "normal" lives. I had never had the pleasure of speaking in Massachusetts previously, and it was a wonderful experience. The newly updated Impingement and Instability course provides a neuromechanical explanation of the "why" behind many PRI concepts and how to apply the science to a variety of conditions and patient populations.

We were able to link the scapula to the calcaneus, femur, and pelvis, so by the time we got to scapular instability, we have the freedom to discuss other avenues of treatment and concepts that we previously were unable to discuss. This is the course we have the opportunity to dive into the concept of talar wobble, balancing hamstring activity, and the pressure sensitivity of the scapula.

Our exploration into the value of pressure management and how pressure is the "Morse Code" of postural and body awareness, as well as how the body learns to make changes to movement strategies was lengthy. This course provides the opportunity to go down some rabbit holes that we ordinarily are unable to proceed into in other courses.   

My thanks to the entire Train Boston crew for a great venue and very welcoming experience. It was an honor to have three certified individuals attend the course: Mike Mullins, Donna Behr, and Phil DeNigris. It was wonderful for me to have your questions and feedback, and those who were newer to PRI appreciated it as well. Thank you for a wonderful weekend and getting back to "normal."

Posted March 28, 2022 at 8:57PM
Categories: Courses Science

I had a great time this weekend in Lincoln NE, at the Postural Restoration Insitute. I had the pleasure of teaching Myokinematics of the HIp and Pelvis to 12 in person and 55 live stream attendees. The Institute continues to grow and it was my pleasure mentoring both Jason Miller and Craig Depperschmidt. They were not only my lab assistants for the weekend, but they both jumped right in to help me teach the Sunday afternoon clinical application of both facilitation and inhibition non manual techniques.


I really enjoy teaching and helping both new and seasoned PRI clinicians along their PRI journeys. We had some great discussions on the differences between orientation (uncompensated) and compensations that are commonly seen at the FA joint when a pelvis gets positioned in a L AIC pattern. No two courses in PRI are taught the same and this course was no different. I had the privilege of sharing my 20 years of PRI clinical experience and 11 years of teaching with this weekend's course attendees. We had fun using some of my favorite musicians references Lady Gaga (born this way), Beyonce (to the left) and new to 2022 Dua Lipa (Levitate)! Go get those 5/5 HADLT and see those patients levitate off the table! Cheers until we meet again PRInation! Thanks to Kevin Fay for giving me yet another musical reference from Idina Menzel (let it go) to help us all remember how important inhibition is early in a program!

Posted February 23, 2022 at 4:53PM
Categories: Clinicians Courses Science

One Thing in Life You Do Not Want To Lose

There are so many things in life that need to be dropped off, like primitive reflexes, baby teeth, and excessive weight. But the one thing you don’t want to lose is your natural, neutral position of your upright neck.  Our upright cervical lordosis of 30 degrees, plus or minus a few degrees, reduces our masticatory stress, subglottal stenosis, head and cervical lateral displacement, as well as our development of open bites, mouth breathing, elevated hyoid malposition, and lowered glossal function. Therefore, you, me and humans in general, do not want to lose the capability of positioning and placing ourselves around a centrally located, cervical spine that has the ability to laterally flex each direction, from an appropriate, normal cervical aligned state, associated with 30 degrees of lordotic curvature. Our livelihood depends on this ability to keep, use and alternate our behavior from this homeostatic state.

Therefore, this is one thing in life I do not want to lose.

This course gives you, the speaker and your patients the opportunity to develop skills and sense on how to keep it.  And with the help of Skip George DC,PRC and Louise Kelley DPT, PRC we reinforced the way to assess, intervene and keep normal, neutral, natural cervical lordosis. Its like the clean air we breathe, the clear water we drink, the natural, non-preservative based food we eat, the honest, good people we interact with and the naturopathic sleep we desire. It is health. It is the best 30 degrees of preventative medicine there is. Skip and Louise, live their life around these concepts and are living examples of what it takes to keep it. Their presentation on how to revolve around a neck and function with a neck that has been re-positioned, will enlighten you. I am sure, one thing they will not lose in their life, is their neutral, natural cervical lordosis. They have been incorporating neuro-mechanics that evolved around 30 degrees of cervical lordosis, their entire life.

Posted February 1, 2022 at 10:46PM
Categories: Courses Science

The Impingement and Instability course was the kick-off for PRI in 2022, and I was fortunate to be able to have several friends and colleagues in the audience. With this course being updated only two years ago, it has a decided different feel compared to the previous iterations. We were fortunate to have nearly 50 attendees via Zoom from 10 different countries, and 8 movement professionals in-person. With so much PRI experience "in the room", both in-person and virtual, we were afforded the luxury of delving into the neurology of PRI.  

Our ability to make substantial and long-standing change to our posture is dependent upon our ability to change how our brain perceives the environment and gravity.  This course explains how that occurs and why reference centers are a better "road map" for us to be able to modify our patterns and habits.  Starting at the calcaneus and talus, we discussed integration of the femur and why we need it to be unstable, which lead us to the pelvis and why pelvic inlets and outlets are linked to the calcaneus.  We were able to spend nearly 4 hours on linking the scapula and underlying thorax to the pelvis and femur and calcaneus.  Our ability to compress and decompress several different "floors" on each side allows our body to make sense of this Morse Code-like alternation for improved posture, patterns, and respiration.  

My thanks to the entire crew from Edge Physical Therapy: Beth, Mike, Brett, and Eric. Thank you for your questions and dialogue. And thank you to Meg and allowing us to learn from your experience of what it finally means to feel the floor under your feet.  And thanks to Lori Thompson and taking the time to go through the Shoe List.  That was a perfect conversation at the part of the course, and I truly hope those in attendance understand just how unique that experience was for all of us.  Thanks to all of those who attended, and here's to a wonderful 2022!

Posted January 20, 2022 at 11:04PM
Categories: Courses Clinicians Science

I honestly look forward to the Advanced Integration course every year. It offers a moment in time, at the end of the year to reflect and to resolve issues that arose in the time period between the last Advanced Integration course and the present one. It is a moment in my personal life where I can decide if I should move into areas of discussion built off of  platforms that were laid down in the recent past, or not. It is a brief period of time where I can review where we, as an Institute, are with respect to concepts that are better accepted and appreciated. This acceptance and appreciation will result in longer periods of time where application becomes a mainstream of future assessment and intervention, and more importantly, an expectation.  

Summarizing the same main concepts in 2004, at the first Advanced Integration course, offered me a moment to integrate neurological, biased, patterns of breathing with tri-planar movement and muscle through discussions on thoracic flexion and curvature of the spine, with 20 to 30 people. Who would have ever thought that there would be 80 plus people, from 8 different countries, attending a four day course with the same title, the same platforms, but advance application because of 17 other moments in time where this course, with the same title, in the same number of days, advanced the original moments in time, so exponentially.

Focusing on dextral orientation, thought processes the human uses for integrated  unilateral and contralateral anatomy and associated sense, two central diaphragm axis’s that regulate our spinal axis, and the importance of ‘left hand to right knee’ function, in today’s world of unlimited Artificial Intelligence (AI)  and limited Advanced Integration (AI), is a reflection of many, many moments in this Institute’s history, where planned periods of time, in this case 96 hours or 4 days, had a major impact on future AI.

Thank you Locatelli Rao DPT, OCS, PRC, Greer Mackie PT, DPT, OCS, Donald Ryan Hodge CSCS, LMT, and Beth Lewis for your help with live demonstration and discussion. We were so grateful. Thank you Taylor Boryca, PTA, for your Kolaches (Czech and Polish fruit pastry that I was raised on) that you served us. And most importantly, thank you Louise Kelley, DPT, PRC, Lori Thomsen, MPT, PRC, Dan Houglum, MSPT, ATC/L,PRC, Jean Masse, PT,OCS, ATC, PRC, and Lisa Mangino, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, PRC for your integrative presentations and ongoing interaction. It was one of my favorite Advanced Integration courses that I have ever been a part of, or have given. Hopefully, if you haven’t been to one of these in recent years, you will consider coming in the next few.  Reach out and talk to someone who has attended this year’s AI course; and I believe you will be encouraged to attend or re-attend, regardless where you are in your PRI moments of time.

Click below to view full photo album,

ADVANCED INTEGRATION 2021 

Posted December 20, 2021 at 8:58PM

We are excited to announce and congratulate the Postural Restoration Certified (PRC) Class of 2021! PRC credentialing is the result of completing multiple advanced PRI courses, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the science through completion of the PRC application, and successfully participating in practical and analytical testing. This week, 7 clinicians earned the designation of Postural Restoration Certified (PRC) under the direction of Ron Hruska, Louise Kelley, Dan Houglum, and Jennifer Platt earlier this week.

The Postural Restoration Institute established this certification process in 2004 as a way to recognize and identify those individuals with advanced training, extraordinary interest and devotion to the science of postural adaptations, asymmetrical patterns and the influence of polyarticular chains of muscles on the human body as defined by the Postural Restoration Institute. The PRC credentialing program is available to physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and chiropractors who have attended PRI courses, demonstrated a thorough understanding of the science through completion of the PRC application, and successfully participate in both clinical and analytical testing. To date, 233 professionals have earned the designation of Postural Restoration Certified (PRC).

To view/download the photos click here.

Back Row: Lousie Kelley, Ron Hruska, Brad Yotty, Beth Quinn, Locatelli Rao, Dan Houglum

Front Row: Jamie McMurtrey, Derya Anderson, Cody Gillis, Rie Takakura, Jennifer Platt

Posted December 17, 2021 at 5:58PM

An Introspective Approach to the Treatment of Functional Cortical Predominance associated with forward movement of one’s body requires reliance on the observation of one’s mental state, as well as examination of one’s own conscious thoughts and feelings about physical mechanics. This course offers the PRI minded clinician an opportunity to explore the components of human cortical processing required for normal or natural, unilateral biomimicry of contralateral processes that are dominant in advancing oneself forward, into and though hemi-lateral and hemispheric forces, that may or may not be perceived or recognized.


Most individuals that do not have natural use, or flow of the four hemispheric components outlined in the Forward Locomotor Movement course, will express forward movement with suppression of one or more of the four components, for unilateral functional dominance, associated with ‘unnatural’ forward advancement of their body, and non-biomimetic formation and function.


Biomimetics is the study and development of synthetic or artificial systems that mimic the formation, function or structure of biologically produced substances and materials, or biological mechanisms and processes that are reproduced from unnatural behaviors. In the case of forward locomotor function, humans often ‘synthesize’ artificial mechanisms of movement by mimicking unnatural homolateral movement, which often results in similar bilateral patterns, that were established through biomimetic cortical processing.


When the contralateral function of the human body, produced by unnatural or compensatory function, that may or may not mimic the ipsilateral function, occurs, the human will rely on biomimetics to synthesize, fabricate or re-produce an acceptable ‘unnatural’ function, for the compensatory form required for safe, effortless, forward advancement of itself.   

 
This unnatural biomimetic behavior often becomes cortically represented and patterned with “natural” contralateral or unilateral function that is recognized, strengthened and patterned by existing functional cortical sites of respective human cortical dominance. This novel integrated patterned functional cortical dominance, along with the associated replacement of biomimetic components of novel, unnatural function, become embedded and accepted as natural neurologic function and flow, for future forward kinetic movement challenge and recognition.


By breaking down the four hemispheric biomimetic components humans use to move themselves forward, the attendee can gain a deep appreciation for the need to consider the influences the hemi-chests, arms, and the eyes can have on flow, effort and trajectory, when designing or outlining a program for the challenged forward mover of his or her body and legs.


Conversation like this, in a tertiary PRI course, is so easy for me to engage into with people who are willing to interact, acknowledge their confusion, share their opinions and provide clinical insight. I greatly appreciated the open dialogue with the live stream individuals who did just that. Laura Kompkoff OD, Ginger Mandy PT, Stephanie Ritter PT, and Kris Zeller-Hack MD, thank you so much for the interaction.


 I also want to thank Masa Abe, ATC, CSCS, Chad Beckman SCCC, PRT, CSCS, Heather Jenny PT, PRC, WCS, Yoshi Mitsuyama MS, ATC/L, PES, PRT, and Stuart Nichols, ATC who helped so much in demonstration, discussion and dialogue on topics that were made easier to discuss because of their actual presence. Actually, I appreciate all those who are here, in-person. Your travel, lodging and overall expense to be here is not overlooked, and I appreciate all of you who come to Lincoln, for any of our PRI courses. It is such an invaluable opportunity for any speaker. Thank you.

Posted November 30, 2021 at 10:37PM
Categories: Courses Science

Postural Respiration was presented at Thrive Proactive Health to an enthusiastic group of diverse healthcare practitioners including PT's, PTA's, a DC, personal trainers, a massage therapist and a physician assistant  .  More than half of the attendees were brand new to PRI as this was their first primary course.

 
A student's first introduction to a PRI primary course can seem exciting, daunting and often like a quantum paradigm shift with an introduction to asymmetries, lateralization and neuro-respiratory driven biomechanics!  Understanding respiration is the key that has the potential to unlock the mystery of how we position a pelvis with a diaphragm, which leg we favor for stance, how we regulate airflow into chambers of the thorax and especially what drives "sense" position and pressure neurologically. Understanding and defining the multi-dimensional neuro-respiratory components of posture as it relates to the asymmetries that exist in the human body, what position we typically live in as humans and then learning how to test and treat objectively and effectively is a major shift in thinking about patient care as well as living in our own body.


It is safe for this faculty member to say that every time a faculty member teaches a course, in some small or large way, we all remember what our first PRI course was like and how new PRI concepts are to the first time student. That is the challenge and fun of teaching, watching "light bulbs" of awareness and discovery come alive in new students and new insights and skills being developed in returning veterans that keep coming back for more PRI as they build their skills and knowledge!

 
Thrive Proactive Health is an ideal location to provide courses and many thanks to Julie Blandin, PT for providing this state-of-the-art facility, enrolling her staff and especially being an experienced veteran of PRI, first rate lab assistant and sharing her clinical experience and competence with all attendees.  Many thanks to her staff for set-up and clean-up including Matt, Dante, Taylor, Karyn, Brittany and Kate!   

Posted November 22, 2021 at 9:58PM
Categories: Courses Science

Timing is a tricky thing, isn't it? Difficult to measure. Tough to describe. Hard to master. But once you find timing, or timing finds you, it can dramatically change any outcome. Aren't we all searching for that nebulous and elusive thing called "timing"? One of the main overall goals of PRI is to improve neuromuscular timing to reduce patterned behavior. Timing is kind of like a unicorn with a majestic, golden mane; you know it when you see it.   

Last weekend it was my distinct pleasure to teach Myokinematic Restoration to 68 movement specialists, 45 of which were new to the science of PRI. We had 10 individuals in person, and two of them were my good friends Craig Depperschmidt, DPT, PRC and Jason Miller, PT, PRC, both of whom are new additions to our PRI faculty. We are lucky to have them. We had a group of 18 co-workers attending the live-stream together. It was daylight savings, which means we got an extra hour of sleep Saturday night. And we had a unicorn in our midst. We were fortunate to have had several unique events occur this weekend that I feel blessed to have all been able to share the experience with 68 friends, old and new.

One of our objectives in this course is to learn how to correctly interpret the tests and let them lead us into our treatment approach. Another objective is to understand how and when to use ligamentous muscle to stabilize an unstable hip capsule. For those of you who have taken this course before, you've experienced the lab portion on the second day, and we usually are able to get to around 7 or so PRI non-manual techniques. On this unique weekend, we were able to get to 15 techniques in lab. Part of it was the small class size during lab, but Craig and Jason were an enormous reason we were able to get to so many activities. It was just a unique experience afforded to those in attendance in-person and on the live stream. This extensive lab time allowed us to dive into the algorithms on pages 49 and 52, as well as the inhibition section of the appendix.  We used page 48 as a treatment flow chart, and proceeded through that page as a decision-making tree to help the attendees solidify examples of how to apply the science of PRI upon returning to their clients and patients. Do what the tests tell you to do. Reposition. Do page 39. Retest. Do what the tests tell you to do.

One of the best teaching examples for this course is an example of someone who fits the description of the algorithm on page 49, and the algorithm on page 52. Ron did this for me in my very first Myokin class in 2004, and it helped me remember how different these patients can present. It is pretty easy to find someone in the course during lab who presents with testing representative of page 52; however, finding someone who fits the description on page 49 is kind of like finding a majestic unicorn with a flowing golden mane. In 6 years of teaching this course I had only met one unicorn, until this weekend. Our unicorn's name was Brett, and he provided us with an exceptional example of how and why testing matters, and how testing helps drive the treatment decision-making tree on page 48.  

My thanks to all of those who attended on live-stream. Your questions clearly indicate you were engaged and were thinking ahead to future courses. Your questions were spot-on and I am looking forward to seeing many, many of you in future PRI courses.
 
My sincere thanks to Brett Shulte, Alison Janky, Savannah DeVault, and Angie Nixon. Your willingness to be our models for demonstration provided all of us with an exceptional learning experience. My thanks to RJ for his excellent production of our live stream, and to Jason and Craig for keeping me honest and helping us get through as much lab as we did.  

So, to recap......
Fantastic in-person and live stream audience. Excellent questions all around. Unbelievable lab. A splendid unicorn. An extra hour of sleep.
Timing is everything.  

Posted November 18, 2021 at 6:50PM

Thank you to Impact Physical Medicine and Aquatic Center for hosting Pelvis Restoration this past weekend. It was a wonderful weekend of integration and learning with fellow colleagues as we dissected the pelvic inlet and outlet. Our goals were to Reposition (inhibit), Re-train (facilitate) and Restore (alternate, oscillate, resonate, vibrate).  Participants were energized with open minds with 7 new course attendees to PRI, 3 PRC’s, and the rest attending another PRI course with various backgrounds. I feel the attendees gained a better understanding with the Pelvic Ascension Drop Test (frontal plane stance phase) and Passive Abduction Raise Test (frontal plane swing phase) with application of the Hruska Abduction Lift test to assist with the pelvic inlet or outlet restoration. From Shirley’s purple highlighted hair reminding of us of internal rotation/inhalation, to Lindsey’s awesome questions, to Mylan’s “light bulb” moments—it gave me energy and found me grateful. Mike, Mara and Christie (PRC’s and lab assistancts) thank you for supporting the Institute and for your passion for the science of PRI.

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