Driving a few hours down Interstate 80 to give a course on Posture and the Diaphragm is absolutely one of the most rewarding experiences I could have. Kearney is in the heartland of America, where the westward push of the railroad began as the Civil War ended. This course was held at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Scott Unruh Ed.D, ATC, director of the Athletic Training program was our host coordinator and once again made all of us feel at home, even when the band was practicing down the hallway. Whitney Schroer ATC, our PRI student intern for the summer, was there to help with registration and administrative processes. Whitney is also working on obtaining her MPA through Grand Valley State. I asked her what she appreciated the most by attending her first PRI course on Postural Respiration and she replied; “I did not recognize how everyone is stronger on the right lower extremity during right push off and right hip extension. This allows them to rotate better to the left with their torsos and trunks, which is why they like to run counterclockwise around tracks versus clockwise”. She also appreciated knowing that our sternum in this situation becomes rotationally oriented to the left. Thoracic true rib rotation to the left, on a spine that remains oriented to the right, creates a flare of the distal left xiphoid and a depression of the right manubrium. (Right BC sternum orientation reflects right rib external rotation and left rib internal rotation). I always wonder what first time attendees take home from their first primary PRI course.
Bonnie Mevis DPT, Kathy Denning PT, and Kalista Carlson LMT were so helpful in allowing me to demonstrate manual technique procedures and outcomes. We had such powerful lab time with their help. Mark Cairns ATC,PRT and Justin Kral DPT, PRC were also instrumental in teaching and mentoring during our lab sessions. All in all, the time on the road reflecting, this community of integrative minds and the educational setting helped me appreciate even more the history and the importance of ‘westward push’ from Kearney!
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