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Welcome to the Postural Restoration Community! This is where you will read the latest industry news, hear about upcoming events, find helpful deadline reminders, and view a plethora of additional resources regarding our techniques and curriculum. The great part about it is--not only can you can view the entries we post, you can also post about the things that matter to you. Did you find an interesting article about a technique you learned in one of your courses? Do you have a patient case study you want to share with other professionals? Simply click "Submit an Entry" and follow the easy steps towards getting your information published in the PRI Community!

Blog Posts in September 2019

This past weekend, I visited one of my favorite places to teach PRI courses. The energy of  "the City that never sleeps" always seems to match the energy and enthusiasm for the science of PRI. This was my third trip back to New York to teach a class. On a personal note, it was great to bring my husband Chris and daughter Devon along again this weekend. We basically ate our way through the city and thankfully were able to walk most of what we indulged on off over the course of the 4 days! A friend and future PRT Kyle Langworthy’s brother Brandon Langworthy, DPT was attending his first PRI class. Brandon lives close to me in NC, so I look forward to seeing him again as well as the other attendees that were taking their first or second PRI course. I was also honored to be part of Kasey Aiken’s mentorship as she prepares to teach this course next year. I will let Kasey share her thoughts and experiences from the weekend. 

- Jen Poulin

From Kasey: "The class brought the energy from the city into the two full packed days of learning Myokinematic Restoration. With 80% of the class being their first PRI course ever, the questions and ability to learn and regurgitate the material was very impressive. We even had a DO that lives in Belgium fly over to learn the science of PRI. The combination of strength and conditioning specialists, PTs, and even PT students in the course is what keeps PRI applicable and beneficial to all different disciplines. They mastered exercises in lab to reposition the pelvis as well as strengthen the pelvis in the new neutral state. The attendees began to understand the correlation between the infamous Hruska ADDuction and ABDuction lift scores in regards to the gait cycle. Being able to tag team teaching with Jen Poulin was an absolute honor and appropriate considering she was the first faculty member to present Myokinematic Restoration to me several years back. A thanks to Brad Gillen, for assisting in lab, we couldn't have done it without your help and expertise to hit home for such a large group of attendees."

Posted September 30, 2019 at 11:13AM

“I have several cases I can apply this to already.”

“The course met the objectives to the full extent. Loved the course!”

“I am so glad I finally got to do a PRI course!”

“I learned a tremendous amount of information that my client base can benefit from.”

The physical therapy team of Charles George VA Medical Center hosted the most recent Postural Respiration course. This facility is considered among the top VA hospitals in the country, noted for its clinicians’ care and expertise. Surrounded by the splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 40 attendees, comprising PTs, OTs, PTAs, ATCs, DCs, and one student contemplated the asymmetrical diaphragm and its influence on pelvic-femoral and rib cage position and function. Movement starts with diaphragm, driving our lower half to one side while our upper half counter-rotates to the other. It’s a neurological concept, and it's what allows humans to be adept at things like throwing a ball, dancing, and doing flips and twists mid-air. Rib cages come in all shapes and sizes, formed not just by genetics but also by the activities a person engages in, positions they hold themselves in, and his or her unique responses to physical and emotional stress. However, regardless of rib morphology, every cage is under the influence of a powerful diaphragm that pulls it to the right, driving predictable patterns of air flow and movement. When not countered, and if skewed too far for too long, the result is pain, rib deformity, poor physiology, shortness of breath, anxiety, etc.

Lab time was generous to allow proficiency in PRI techniques, both manual and non-manual, and objective tests that indicate an individual’s neurological patterning and presence of pathology. Attendees experienced the power and swiftness of PRI’s neurological techniques -- inhibition and facilitation – to create changes to pathology-producing patterns. There isn’t a patient population out there that wouldn’t benefit from the PRI approach. Thank you to lab assistants Josh Owen, ATC, PRT, and Tracy-Lynn “I am SO ready to get my PRC” Schuster, DPT, whose guidance and clinical expertise provided clarity throughout the weekend. Great to see PRC clinics well-represented: Josh Olinick’s Steps for Recovery, Jen and Chris Poulin’s Sandhills Sports Performance, Advance PT, and Tracy Lynn’s Schuster Physical Therapy. Thank you to our avatars Debra Albrecht, PT; Nathan Crosby, DPT; Charles Fairbanks, PTA; Anthony Figuera, DPT; Linda Gutowski, DPT; Carl Heldman, DPT; Megan Humpal, PT; Caroline Lounsbury, ATC; Christiana Marron, DPT; and Pete West, DPT. Also thank you to our reader, Onyeamaechi Arinze, PT (my apologies again for botching your name all weekend. If we meet again, I’ll need to shorten it to “O”!). Finally, thank you so much to our hosts, who made the weekend go smoothly: Nathan, Anthony, Carol Harty, Deanna Mihok, Monica Sety, Keith Silcox, Pete, and Sharon Wisner. It was a pleasure to meet you all! Charles George VA will be hosting Pelvis Restoration in 2020. I highly recommend a visit to Asheville for this course. Be sure to treat yourself to a few days before or after the course to enjoy the gorgeous hikes and all that Asheville has to offer.

Posted September 27, 2019 at 11:59AM

It was another great PRI weekend in Santa Barbara, CA. Thank you Peter for hosting this past weekend. The breakfast burritos and fruit and your hospitality were amazing. The theme of the weekend was applying the science and concepts of PRI at the pelvis with patients with simplicity. Understanding these concepts and tests assist with making PRI non-manual techniques much easier with better patient outcomes. It was a great group of practitioners with a passion for PRI and learning. Many were attending their 3rd or 4th PRI course and we had three newbies in the group. Thank you for a wonderful weekend. I was humbled to be your "coach" for the weekend.

Posted September 20, 2019 at 12:33PM
Categories: Courses Techniques Science

Rosencutter Ultra Fitness, also known as Rosen-Cutting Edge Fitness, was the location of their second hosted PRI course this past weekend. Nick Rosencutter is always looking for a way to help his clients improve whether it is thru strength and conditioning, nutrition, the latest in soft tissue workand especially PRI as it applies to performance and rehabilitation. Rosencutter Ultra Fitness had six of their trainers in attendance including Nick and they have a team approach integrating PRI into client programming. Position prep is part of their programming to provide sense awareness for neutrality before, during and after workouts. We discussed this weekend that PRI loves extension for power and performance--we just don't want you to stay in extension. Equally, and perhaps more important, is the issue of rest and neutrality via flexing into neutral with adequate rib internal rotation.

The job of strength and conditioning professionals is to help clients and athletes become stronger, faster, more skilled at movement and especially durable whether you are a grandmother picking up grand kids or an olympic speed skater. Since this class was attended by so many strength and conditioning individuals, the issue of "saggitalization" was explored as well as the ability or inability to maintain or achieve competent transverse plane-ability in rotational sports. Since all sports require rotation for power and performance, the ability to orient a pelvis fully left and right then have adequate and full counter rotation of a ribcage is a must for what is known as separation of torso and pelvis.

Testing and non-manual techniques are always "ah ha" moments as they relate to position pelvis, femur, ribcage, scapulae and even neck. What is driving these positions in this course and the best answer when a student is called upon? The diaphragm of course! Manual techniques included the big three that we cover in Postural Respiration as well as a two person infra-clavicular pump that is often needed for a person that loves to stay in extension even after the best efforts via non-manual techniques to get them neutral. Also in attendance were physical therapists, a massage therapist and an ATC from Alaska who was travelling locally with the hockey team he works with. Shout out to Nick and all of his staff for their support and enthusiasm this weekend.

Posted September 19, 2019 at 11:05AM
Categories: Courses Techniques Science

Jason Miller, PT, PRC, was our host for Myokinematic Restoration last weekend in Missoula, MT.  Jason has been using PRI for quite a while, and this was a great opportunity for Jason's co-workers to get exposed to the science of PRI.  Nearly half the audience were from Jason's facility, which will really assist those new to PRI in their journey.  It's always easier to have co-workers along side for the ride.  My thanks to Marla, Seth, Samantha, Kristina, Kailey, Erika, Jessica, and Sydney, as well as Jason's wife, Jill,  for their willingness to learn and ask great questions.  

Dan Houglum, Myokinematic Restoration, Postural Restoration Institute, Primary Course

It was a great group of movement professionals, and a nice mix of those new to PRI, and those who had been exposed to PRI previously.  We started the weekend talking about positional influences on femur position and performance, as well as why and how AF position directs FA performance. We proceeded into which muscles are available and unavailable while in the L AIC pattern. This introductory 5.5 hours of didactic information is the foundation upon which the rest of our weekend was built. And it will provide a solid foundation for those new to PRI to build from as well.  

Myokinematic Restoration - Postural Restoration Primary Course

Once the groundwork had been laid, then we can start getting into the real value of PRI: getting off the right leg and onto the left leg correctly without compensation. The role the Hruska ADD and ABD tests play in that endeavor cannot be overstated. We were fortunate to have a lot of time to dedicate to these valuable tests. Additionally, we were able to experience, find, and feel inhibitory and faciliatory techniques, which allowed us to bring together both days of learning into a great time of lab.

Myokinematic Restoration - PRI Primary Course

We had a great crew of attendees. In addition to Missoula Bone & Joint group, I greatly appreciated Tim Cordial's questions, Amy Downing's help in lab, and Mandi Nystrom's willingness to be our volunteer during demonstration.

Again, my thanks to Jason and his crew for a great weekend. Looking forward to the next trip to Missoula!

As all the PRI Faculty will tell you, having the opportunity to teach a PRI course in Lincoln at the Postural Restoration Institute is kind of like a homecoming. Even though it isn't really our "home court," it does feel like it. That's a testament to Hannah, RJ, Sage, and, of course, Ron and Jen. As I said in our introduction at the beginning of the course, those new to PRI couldn't have picked a better course than this one for their first dive into the science of PRI.

Myokinematic Restoration, Lincoln NE, Postural Restoration Institute

It was such a great experience to teach with Kasey Aikin, our newest PRI faculty member. She did an awesome job, and I'm eager to watch her develop and grow into her new role. We had two other PRC's in attendance as well this weekend: Lisa Bartels and Jason Masek. They have been integrated in PRI for many years, and it was so beneficial to the attendees to have them in class and during lab. Additionally, we had five other attendees who had attended multiple PRI courses prior to this one.

Myokinematic Restoration, Lincoln NE, Postural Restoration Institute

Myokinematic Restoration, Lincoln NE, Postural Restoration Institute

With all the experience in the room, with Ron and Jen providing context during the course and lab, and with the interest and energy from the attendees, the course proved to be a very fertile environment for those new to the science of PRI. Kasey presented an excellent opening and really set the table for the rest of the weekend. We opened the course with discussing osteokinematics and myokinematics surrounding the relationship between the pelvis and femur. And we finished the day with a great repositioning wrap up, which lead us right into Day 2. Kasey again set the table with another stellar opening session, and the table was set for our day of lab.

Dan Houglum, Postural Restoration Institute

Our lab times were very productive and engaging. And a lot of it was due to where we were, and the expertise in the room. I have to thank Lisa, Jason, and Jen for their help during our labs. Kasey ran a great lab session on Sunday afternoon, as well. We were fortunate to have nearly 7 hours of lab during this course. We had a 4.5:1 ratio of student to PRC in the lab. I'm not sure the first time attendees realized how valuable the lab time was, and how much we were able to get out of the time we had.

My thanks to Jennifer Bacon, Meghann Vanslager, Kelli Reilly, Kellen Goertzen, Joe Siracusano, Kristen Wassung, and Benjamin Sandman for their wonderful questions. Honestly, we had great questions from nearly everyone in the room. I think every course attendee asked a question at some point during the weekend, which just shows how great a group we were fortunate to have. For many reasons, this particular Myokinematic Restoration course was unique, and Kasey and I feel very fortunate to have been a part of it.

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