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Myokinematic Restoration - Live Stream - Review

I had the great pleasure of teaching Myokinematic Restoration in Lincoln, NE on August 11th and 12th. It was two days of soaking in an attitude of gratitude to be able to discuss something I am passionate about to a worldwide audience. United States, Australia, China, and Canada were represented with clinicians spread out all over the county from Florida to Washington and everywhere in between.

I also had the great privilege of attending the musical Hamilton in Lincoln with my PRI Family on Friday night. Hamilton's message of hope, perseverance, and coming together resonated well with the Myokinematic themes of persevering through our right biasness and getting appropriate muscles to come together to balance our imbalances.

We had a fantastic in person audience who didn't want to loose their "Shot" at learning and appreciating patterns and positions. Nicolas took a break from his final semester of PT school in Florida to remind us the learning is "Non-Stop" and gave us a great student perspective on the material. When he becomes a Physical Therapist in December he will remember to never be "Satisfied" unless he is integrating test and retest principles of A-B-A evidence based practice.

Michael attended his 14th PRI class and gave us a fantastic historical perspective as he has known Ron Hurska since 1994, knowing that "You'll Be Back" for more as we are traveling on our PRI journeys. Matt, a former employee of the institute and Ron's "Right Hand Man", spent time with us before he begins his role as a P.A. next week in Omaha.

We had an absolute gift in Allison who was our primary avatar for demonstration. She helped us learn that if you don't feel the "Burn" of a left IC Adductor and left anterior glute med you may be "Helpless" managing left stance phase of gait with a pathological left hip capsule. She was able to "Blow Us All Away" by getting a 4/5 Hruska Adduction Lift score at the end of Day 2 by being such a great PRI demonstrator for the camera.

Gavin brought high level thought process and questions and taught the class to "Say No to This" overactive right adductor we often deal with. Cas's left hip wanted to be in "The Room Where it Happens" of left AF IR to assist in reducing torque at the knee, while Joshua was excited for "What Comes Next?" as it relates to AF position and shoulder function and control for his baseball players at Baylor.

Chase and Kyle were kind enough to sit up front and "Wait For It" until Sunday afternoon for treatment techniques based off the Hruska Adduction Lift Test so that their neurological patterning and need for left stance and right swing could "Stay Alive".

Wyatt thought "That Would Be Enough" after the facilitation techniques, but was kind enough to "Take a Break" at the end of Day 2 in order to demonstrate a proper Plantar Flexor inhibition in the All 4 Belly Lift Walk.

In the end, I think all of us realized that the "World Was Wide Enough" for more knowledge and integration of PRI concepts, appreciating asymmetries, patterns, and positions. "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story" may depend on our ability to efficiently assist our patients and clients in managing out right and left sides of our body.

Big thanks to everyone attending the live stream and contributing to the discussion with their questions and attentiveness. Special shout out and thanks to RJ for running such a smooth two days juggling the technology, answering and facilitating questions, and being such a positive influence for the Institute.

Craig Depperschmidt, DPT, PRC

Posted August 23, 2023 at 9:37AM

Categories: Courses Clinicians Science

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Munich Germany - Summer Tour

I had the distinct pleasure to have the opportunity to travel to Munich, Germany, and teach the PRI courses Myokinematic Restoration and Impingement and Instability. It was a very rewarding experience to see how the science of PRI is received in another part of the world. And it was a great experience to be immersed in a different culture for almost two weeks.

The first course presented was Myokin. We had 25 people attend the course from varying parts of Germany as well as neighboring countries Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Austria. This was a unique experience because usually when Myokin is presented, 90% of the attendees have never taken a PRI course before. For this course,19 of the attendees had taken multiple PRI courses, as well as Myokin previously. I made a point right away to make sure we ensured that those who had not taken a PRI course previously had a great experience.

As a result of so many of the attendees being PRI veterans, we had many, many great questions and discussions. And while some of questions pertained to other PRI coursework, we were able to stay on course and continue to meet the needs of those who were new to PRI. I'm not sure I have ever taught a PRI course where every single attendee asked at least one question. But that was the case with this stellar group. Such energy and interest in the science an application of PRI concepts!

The second course we presented was Impingement and Instability. Because this is a Secondary Course in PRI, everyone had taken several PRI courses previously. Again, this led to lively discussion and questions. We were able to use the concepts of I&I and start building a bridge between the Primary PRI courses and the other Secondary and Tertiary PRI Courses. I&I is an ever-evolving course. It was immensely rewarding to have the opportunity to help these attendees in their PRI journey to better understand and apply the science and concepts of PRI.

My eternal gratitude to the Lindbergs Academy for hosting us for back-to-back weekends. Their hospitality was top notch. My thanks to Julia Felbar, FRA, Maria Sowmardi Jauker, FRA, Angelo Gorsch, PT, and Dr. Hooman Skaraztavakol for their questions and interest in all things PRI. It was awesome to have Kazu Nishimura, PT, PRC with me and helping with lab during Myokin. Spending time with Kazu was such a blessing, and his contribution was immensely appreciated and valuable to me and the other attendees.

It was an experience I will not forget. Those in attendance were lovely and soaked up the material. PRI is global. And the science does translate to other countries and cultures as we are all humans and we all have patterns. Thank you, Munich!

Dan Houglum, MSPT, ATC/L, PRC

Posted August 16, 2023 at 10:40AM

Categories: Courses Science

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Postural Respiration - Bellevue, WA - Course Review

Last weekend, August 5-6, at Hidef Physical Therapy in Bellevue, WA, I had the pleasure of teaching Postural Respiration to a wide range of professionals that included a chiropractic student, physical therapists, LMT's, strength and conditioning professionals and an osteopathic physician that wanted to learn more about respiration, neurology and biomechanics.

Every PRI course that is presented is always different in terms of questions asked and what is discovered during demonstration and lab. For example, often after re-positioning a pelvis on Day 1 with non-manual techniques, the student will become immediately neutral to the "oohs and awes" of the course attendees. The PRI magic seems almost easy and effortless with a technique that targets inhibition of the L AIC.
Since this course is an integrated approach to the treatment of patterned thoraco-abdominal pathomechanics, it is also likely that the PRI magic is not apparent on day 1 as the student being demonstrated on may not get neutral with any non-manual technique on Day 1 or even into the morning of Day 2.

This is where the process of following the guidelines on page 50 in the course manual come to life. What if your best efforts with non-manual techniques don't seem to be making a difference clinically? The roadmap then takes the whole group of students through a journey of applying manual techniques to create first a ZOA, then right apical chest wall expansion. If after doing the right apical expansion or superior T-4 manual technique does not result if all of your tests turning negative, or you have limited cervical axial rotation to the left and especially a positive left apical expansion test, then you have a definitive Superior T-4 pathomechanical respiratory process.

In every course there is someone that is Superior T-4. In this course the students that were the demonstratees were all Superior T-4. Much to the instructor's relief they all became neutral after a subclavius release and infraclavicular pump! The most gratifying part is to walk the class through a process that they need to practice and apply clinically, especially for the more complex cases that present to their offices. Accessory muscle overuse, the over-reliance of end range lateralization, the inability to reciprocate and alternate side to side and especially being aware of delivery of airflow pressure sense into a chest wall for the purpose of neuro-respiratory, physiological and biomechanical variability is the heart and soul of this course.

Thank you to my most professional lab assistant Paige McNerthney, PT for all of your help this weekend and to all of the students who brought their "A" game of attention, focus and energy. Thanks to Hidef for hosting Postural Respiration.

View Full Photo Album HERE!

Robert George, Chiropractor

Posted August 9, 2023 at 3:05PM

Categories: Courses Clinicians Science

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Considering Applying for PRC or PRT Credentialing? Check out these Application Tips & Testimonials!

Each year, this image pops up on my Facebook Memories towards the end of July, when I was working on my PRC application back in 2011. I was a full time PT at the Hruska Clinic at the time, and just two years out of PT school. I began taking courses when I was still in PT school, had an awesome clinical instructor Lori Thomsen for one of my final clinical rotations, and landed my dream job after graduation at the Hruska Clinic. I was surrounded by the best mentors ever, yet I must admit that I was a little scared at the thought of completing the PRC application and testing. However, having been on both sides (a scared and nervous applicant, now 12 years ago, and today the Director of Education and Credentialing running the show), here are some tips to hopefully ease your anxiety about the process.

Unsure about taking the next step towards PRI Credentialing? Check out what others have said about their PRC credentialing experience and PRT credentialing experience!

My Top 3 tips for preparing your PRC or PRT application:

1. Set aside larger chunks of time to work on your application.
When I first started my application, I was working on it for a couple hours at a time in the evening, or when I had a patient cancellation during the day. But, I found that by the time I would get my stuff out (all of my course binders, my case study patient charts, stacks of research articles, etc), and I mentally prepared myself to get started, I didn't have much time to get actual work done on my application. Therefore, I found my groove when I set aside a full Saturday (which is what this picture is representing from 12 years ago). I set up a table to work, had all of my course manuals accessible and I got major work done! I did this a couple more days over the next couple months and finished the application. It isn't too late to start on your application for this year, if you are able to dedicate a couple weekends to the process.

2. The review committee isn't looking for perfection.

The application review is a peer-reviewed process (PRCs and PRTs). Each application is reviewed by two members of the review committee for which you are applying (either PRC or PRT), and their recommendations are provided for review by Ron and myself. Based on their feedback, we then determine if the applicant is prepared for testing, and the applicant then receives the reviewer's feedback. None of us are perfect in what we do, and thus the review committee is not looking for perfection. Rather, they want to see your 'thought process' and 'decision-making' with the PRI concepts from the four pre-requisite courses displayed on paper throughout your application. Therefore, I would recommend that even if you look back at a case study or client program that you put together and think "wow, I would have totally not selected that technique now that I know more...." (that is fine), you can still use that case study, and at the end of your case study discussion, reflect on what you would do different now (and why....knowing what you know now, that you didn't know then).

3. The application in itself is an educational experience.

I hear this often when people are here for PRC and PRT testing, and I felt the same way myself. I learned SO much when I was preparing my application. It forced me to review content from the courses and find answers to questions that I still had myself. I vividly remember that I didn't fully understand the Superior T4 Syndrome until this day 12 years ago, when I went back and studied my manual, watched the home study course again and reviewed the manual techniques. I had an 'ah-ha' moment in preparing my application that day. The application made me reflect on my decision making process, consider what I might do different now, identify favorite techniques (which is difficult when there are so many), and it allowed me to realize how much I did know (even though there was still a lot I didn't know). This last one is important. Preparing your application is not an easy task, and it takes a lot of time, but it should give you a little boost of confidence (you are studying for the exam while you prepare your application), and that is the hidden gem. Last but not least, the feedback from the reviewer's is so incredibly helpful!

If you are considering applying for PRC or PRT, and you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! The PRC application deadline (for testing in December) is September 15th and the PRT application deadline (for testing in January) is October 15th.

I also recorded some videos a few years back, which I hope you will find helpful as you prepare your application. These videos can be found on the PRC page and PRT page of our website.