Community

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!

Myokinematic Restoration - Baltimore, MD - Course Review

This past weekend I had a great time teaching and mentoring 23 students right downtown Baltimore at FX Physical Therapy. The host site was in an amazing historic former bank building. We literally were in the bank Vault! It was great to be back out on the road. I have enjoyed being home with family and friends during the Pandemic, but there is nothing like getting on a plane, renting a car and showing up in person to teach a Live course.

Matt was an amazing host as were his staff. We had students fly in from Oregon and New Mexico. It is so fun to meet new students and introduce them to the science of PRI. We discussed AF and FA position and strength as it relates to balancing out normal human asymmetries. I had a evening out with my college room-mate. It seems like yesterday when we were students at UVM. Just the weekend before, Chris and I took our youngest daughter Devon to college at NC State. Teaching the following weekend was a nice distraction from this life event. One of our course attendees is the ATC for NC State Basketball! Go Wolfpack! This class asked alot of questions, engaged in great clinical discussions and I think they are ready to hone their PRI skills over the next several weeks. I love adding new clinicians to the PRINation!

Myokinematic Restoration, Postural Restoration Institute

Jennifer Poulin

Posted August 30, 2021 at 4:02PM

Categories: Courses Science

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Impingement & Instability - Live Stream - Course Review

For many of us who have taken PRI courses over the years, Lincoln, Nebraska, often becomes a home-away-from-home. This has been particularly true in the last two years with the inception of PRI live-stream courses. It has been such a blessing for PRI to reach so many people via live-stream. In total, we had 78 people attend Impingement and Instability, with 20 of those having attended the course in previous years. However, only 5 individuals had attended the new and upgraded version of I&I before this weekend. Having six people live and in person was such a gift. It was an honor to have 11 PRC's and PRT's in the audience as well.

This course is a clinician's course, and we are able to make a lot of connections and links between several PRI courses in one weekend. Yes, this is a dense course with a lot of great information. The advantage of the live-stream is that all the attendees received the recording of the course for two weeks to listen to the material again. The ironic part of the "new" version of I&I is that a lot of the material is unchanged; the context and neurological links between the floor on the ground and the "floor" under the scapulae are significantly changed. This allows the attendee to further appreciate the "why" and "how" behind non-manual activity application and selection.

This course is dripping with neurology and is a gateway for the attendee to attend the PRI Forward Locomotion Movement, Cranial Resolution, Occlusal Cervical Restoration, and the new Voice Box course. We build off the three PRI primary courses to delve into how to apply those basic concepts using a higher level of decision making based on a neurological sensory framework. Hopefully, we were able to provide the attendees with that appreciation and help prepare them for future PRI courses.

My thanks to RJ Hruska for orchestrating the entire weekend. He was very helpful to me, and made my job much easier. We got so many great questions over the weekend, and we were able to answer most, if not all, of them. And having six people live in the building provided an additional layer of questions and feedback. My thanks to Benjamin Sandman for his help with our calcaneal sensorium demonstration. He said it perfect when he said he was surprised at how much better he could sense the ground under his L calcaneus even after the demonstration was over.

It was truly and honor to have attendees from 14 countries. It is amazing to think that this technology exists, and I am very thankful that fellow movement specialists were willing to spend time with us, even from the other side of the world. Even though most, if not all, of the 72 of the live-stream attendees were in their homes, it was comfortable for me as well to be in my home-away-from-home and spend some quality I&I time with so many like-minded peers.

Dan Houglum, MSPT, ATC/L, PRC

Posted August 26, 2021 at 11:19AM

Categories: Courses Techniques Science

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Upcoming STRATER Level One Course Live Stream in October

Hello fellow scoliosis practitioners and PRI NATION! We are offering our STRATER Level One course via Live Stream In October!

A 3-Dimensional Approach for the Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis

LIVE STREAM: Saturday October 2nd and Sunday October 3rd, 2021

15 CEU’s from North Carolina Physical Therapy Association

This introductory lecture and lab course is designed to teach scoliosis practitioners assessment and treatment techniques for adolescents and adults with curvature of the spine. Participants will gain a greater understanding of:

Tri-planar asymmetry in scoliosis
Factors determining risk of scoliosis progression
Spinal precautions
Understanding curve patterns
Safe performance of ADLs
Screening and evaluation of scoliosis
Reviewing x-rays in scoliosis
Bracing in scoliosis: types & necessity
Specific 3-dimensional treatment techniques
Special considerations for adults with scoliosis

All course instructors hold multiple, advanced certifications pertaining to clinical management of scoliosis and actively treat patients with scoliosis as the core of our practice:

Susan Henning, PT, PRC, SBC-C2

Jean Masse, PT, DPT, PRC, OCS, ATC, SBC-C2

Lisa Mangino, PT, DPT, C/NDT, PCS, PRC, SBC-C2

See also instructors' related publication in: Innovations in Spinal Deformities and Postural Disorders

For more information, please see our flyer!

To Register, go to https://straterscoliosis.com/course-registration

We hope to see you virtually in October!

Lisa Mangino, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, PRC, SBC-C2

Posted August 23, 2021 at 9:42AM

Categories: Clinicians Courses

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Pelvis Restoration - Virginia Beach, VA - Course in Review

What a great weekend in Virginia Beach, VA. Thank you Julie Blandin and Thrive Proactive Health for hosting Pelvis Restoration this past weekend. We had 32 course attendees and 18 of them were attending their first PRI course and several were attending their second course. It was amazing to collaborative and integrate with Physical Therapists, Movement Specialists, Trainers, Massage Therapists, Physicians, and Physicians Assistants. Lisa introduced the “Reflected” Head” of the Rectis Femoris Muscle. The proximal attachment site, attaches just superior of the acetabulum. I feel this “Reflected Head” also assists with flexion or forward rotation of the anterior inlet. I had never heard of the Reflected Head of the Rectis Femoris until this past weekend. Isn’t is so amazing to collaborate and learn from each other?!!

The course participants not only appreciated PRI repositioning or neutrality thru the Adduction Drop Test, but also appreciated how the Pelvic Ascension Drop Test and Passive Abduction Raise Test not only demonstrate frontal plane control for stance or swing phase of Forward Locomotor Movement, but also inhibition of muscle. The Hruska Abduction List test also assisted the Health Care provider with how to apply and select PRI non-manual techniques for their patient after the pelvis is repositioned. PRI tests will assist you with your PRI application with your patient.

Lori Thomsen

Posted August 20, 2021 at 11:47AM

Categories: Courses Science

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Postural Respiration - Live Stream - Course in Review

After a nearly 18-month hiatus, it was a thrill to present Postural Respiration to my fellow clinicians in the very place the science originated. The combination of live and zoom attendees -- PTs, PTAs, ATCs, Massage Therapists, Chiropractors, Students, Strength and Conditioning Specialists, a Pilates Instructor, and a Kinesiologist -- hailed from the US, Canada, Germany, and Ireland.

The weekend was devoted to the asymmetrical, patterned thoracic diaphragm and its influence on the autonomic nervous system, patterned movement, and the brain’s sense of itself in space. We learned that our asymmetrical body is a necessary design for survival and is kept “in check” when we engage in varied activities throughout our lives. However, most of our patients-clients fail to do so, which kick starts pain, pathology, and injury.

As the Olympics come to their conclusion, it seems apt to compare PRI’s treatment approach to a track relay:
Leading off and exploding out of the blocks are the abdominals (internal obliques and transverse abdominus), which enable full lung expulsion of air and establish the (left hemi-) diaphragm ZOA.
The second leg, the diaphragm itself, now pulls air in with an adequate ZOA and hands off the baton to the third leg…
…the rib cage, whose external rotation and internal rotation properties are restored, particularly in the left posterior mediastinum and right apical and lateral chest wall regions.
Finally, our anchor leg, the lungs, bring the baton home. They now have the space to expand into and out of regions that were previously closed off, for the health of the many vital vessels that travel in, around, and through the thorax. Moreover, the restoration of alternating, reciprocal lung compression-expansion produces alternating, reciprocal movement, both simple and complex.

More HERE

Ample lab time was devoted to assessment of the patterned body so that each attendee had confidence come Monday morning with replicating the tests on their patient-client. Instruction in manual rib cage techniques was also heavily emphasized, so that attendees had both observational and tactile sense of patterned air flow. Finally, many non-manual techniques were discussed and performed, including when and why you choose them and how to coach your patient-client through them.

Thank you to all of those who asked questions. You enhanced the course experience for all. Thank you to our avatars Brett Dougherty, PT, Matt Mandich, SCCC, CSCCA, Joshua Werk, ATC, CSCS, and Tammi Zimmerman, LMT for allowing us to bring the tests and techniques to life.

Thank you to Justin Pastoor, MS, CSCS, for your clear verbal instruction while tests and techniques were demonstrated.

I now fully understand what Ron means when he says he couldn’t have presented the material with the same easy flow and energy without the assistance of Jen Platt. Thank you for ensuring there were no technology glitches, deftly navigating the camera angles, monitoring questions, and keeping this instructor and live attendees well-hydrated and fed.

Looking forward to seeing many of you again as you continue your PRI journey!

Louise Kelley, DPT, PRC

Posted August 18, 2021 at 10:40AM

Categories: Athletics Clinicians Courses Science

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Introducing the PRI Mini Residency Program!

We are excited to announce that we will soon begin offering a PRI Mini Residency Program, a formal program of post-professional education and mentorship for PRI-minded healthcare and movement professionals that is designed to enhance one’s understanding and application of PRI concepts, objective testing, and patient/client management. The foundational science from the Postural Restoration Institute’s three primary courses will be strongly emphasized by all PRI Mini Residency Centers, however each PRI Mini Residency Center offers a unique environment and experience, and many residency centers will also include exposure to interdisciplinary integration with other healthcare or movement professionals.

This PRI Mini Residency Program is designed for healthcare or movement professionals who are self-directed learners, have completed the required PRI coursework, and would like to enhance their clinical reasoning, interpersonal communication and dialogue using PRI terminology with other professionals as well as patients or clients, and application skills of the science of Postural Restoration® through one-on-one clinical education and mentorship with a PRC or PRT professional at a PRI Mini Residency Center.

To learn more about this 6-week PRI Mini Residency Program, please CLICK HERE! And stay tuned for more information coming soon to our website, including information about the approved PRI Mini Residency Centers and the application for those interested in completing a PRI Mini Residency Program!

Jennifer Platt

Posted August 12, 2021 at 9:05AM

Categories: Clinicians Postural Restoration Certified (PRC) Postural Restoration Trained (PRT) Science

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Myokinematic Restoration - Lombard, IL - Course Review

It would be a colossal understatement to say that the last 18 months have been a substantial change for everyone on the planet. However, for this one weekend, it was very refreshing to get a slice of normalcy. It was my distinct honor to teach Myokinematic Restoration to a group of movement specialists in Lombard, IL. It was exceptionally refreshing for me to interact with this diverse and eager group of peers.

Our exploration into normal mechanics and eventually transferring into the patho-compensatory mechanics that can result from living and performing in a pattern. Discussing which muscles are properly positioned compared to muscles that are poorly positioned allowed us to proceed to testing. This is the only course in PRI that allows us to explain and have lab time specific to the Hruska Abduction and Adduction Lift tests. The relatively small class size provided us ample opportunity for lab on Day 2. This course has always had a lot of lab time built into it, and we had nearly 7 hours of lab time. We were able to explain and perform 16 PRI Non-manual activities. It was a blessing to have that much lab time.

It was wonderful to have a PRI veteran, Ryne Gioviano, in attendance. Having his perspective and insight with very helpful. Brandee Barbee, Terris Hightower, Ryan Daniels, Kasia Galica, and Shirley Montoya were exceptionally helpful with their questions and perspective. It was an honor to have Dr. Stephen Sikorsky in attendance as well. Having a chiropractor in the audience provides level of clinical experience and expertise that is undeniable and very helpful to fellow attendees.

Thank you to those who attended as it felt closer to normal. Here's hoping we all get back to normal sooner than later.

Dan Houglum, MSPT, ATC/L, PRC

Posted August 10, 2021 at 10:26AM

Categories: Clinicians Courses Science

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MYOKINEMATIC RESTORATION – WARNER ROBINS, GA – UPCOMING COURSE

The Cantrell Center for Physical Therapy and Wellness is hosting Myokinematic Restoration, a primary course offered by the Postural Restoration Institute, September 18-19. This course is without pre-requisite so if you've been wanting to learn more about PRI, attending this course is a great way to start!

Register at least 4 weeks before the course to receive the early registration rate:
https://www.posturalrestoration.com/programs-courses/introductory-courses/myokinematic-restoration

About the Course

The course description from www.posturalrestoration.com explains that "this advanced lecture and lab course explores the biomechanics of contralateral and ipsilateral myokinematic lumbo-pelvic-femoral dysfunction. Treatment emphasizes the restoration of pelvic-femoral alignment and recruitment of specific rotational muscles to reduce synergistic predictable patterns of pathomechanic asymmetry. Emphasis will be placed on restoration, recruitment, and retraining activities using internal and external rotators of the femur, pelvis, and lower trunk. Guidance will be provided on how to inhibit overactive musculature. This will enable the course participant to restore normal resting muscle position. Participants will be able to immediately apply PRI clinical assessment and management skills when treating diagnoses such as piriformis syndrome, ilio-sacral joint dysfunction, and low back strain.

About the Course Instructor

This course will be taught by Jesse Ham, PT, CMP, PRC. His biography from www.posturalrestoration.com shares that "Jess graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2004 with a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy. He began his career in Rapid City, SD at an outpatient orthopedic clinic where he worked for 8 years. As part of a team of 10 PT’s, Jess had become an active participant in continuing education. Jess’s focus on serving Western South Dakota with lifetime fitness, health and root positional cause versus peripheral symptom modification fit with PRI concepts seamlessly. He took his first course in PRI in 2006, which evolved into a now passionate interest in Postural Restoration®. When able, he took additional courses and coordinated PRI courses as a host clinic. In 2012, Jess earned the designation of Postural Restoration Certified™(PRC) as a result of 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®. At the start of 2013, he joined About You Physical Therapy with the goal of becoming a Postural Restoration Center in the near future. He thoroughly enjoys his time with patients and feels called to teach postural restoration, as it was and is central to him remaining in the profession of physical therapy. Jess is a husband and a daddy first and loves spending free time with his favorites—his wife Carrie, and his daughters Alexa, Jenna, Macie and Lillie."

About the Course Site

The Cantrell Center for Physical Therapy and Wellness, a privately-owned physical therapy clinic established in 1992, has been a Postural Restoration® Center since 2008. A Postural Restoration® Center is defined by PRI as "a place of business where at least one individual is Postural Restoration® credentialed (PRC or PRT) and all other individuals on staff who are eligible for credentialing have completed two or more PRI-sponsored courses." We're proud to be the only Postural Restoration Center in the state of Georgia, having two PRC clinicians on staff (both of whom will be in attendance of the Myokinematic Restoration course hosted by the Cantrel Center Sep. 18-19).

Located just an hour and half from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the Cantrell Center makes for an ideal location for out of state travelers. The Cantrell Center is located nearby exits from the interstate and has multiple hotels within walking distance, adding to the convenience of attending a PRI course hosted by the Cantrell Center.

To learn more or to register, visit:
https://www.posturalrestoration.com/programs-courses/introductory-courses/myokinematic-restoration

Jen Zamora

Posted August 2, 2021 at 3:18PM

Categories: Courses

0 Comments

High Point University PT School PRI Summer Selective

2021 Summer Semester Class in Review

What an honor to be invited to teach PRI for a 6-week summer selective course at High Point University this past May-June to PT students in their third year! A big “Thank You!” to the staff at HPU and especially to Dr. Dora Gosselin, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, former student, and colleague of mine for the invitation! Seventeen eager students chose this selective and did a fantastic job receiving the science. They asked thoughtful questions and provided helpful feedback at the course end.

In six 4-hour classes, we were able to get through the concepts of Asymmetrical Human Design, Respiratory Zone of Apposition (ZOA), Neutrality, Right-Sided Dominance, Alternation, Respiration, Lateralization, and an Introduction to Scoliosis. We tackled 9 PRI tests and 15 non-manual techniques in 8 hours of lab. We ended with 2 assignments to give them an opportunity to explore and apply the science of PRI. They dove into the literature to see if they could find, review, and then present an article that compared the right side to the left side of the human body in any area of PT. Then, they applied their new knowledge by performing 3 PRI tests and 3 non-manual techniques followed by PRI re-testing to identify changes to a human body of their choice. These two projects/class presentations served to be learning experiences from which we all benefitted.

I was very lucky and grateful to have the incomparable Dr. Jennifer Smart as a lab TA with me on non-manual technique day! The students’ learning experience was audibly enriched by her presence! Thank you, Jen!

Finally, thank you to Ron Hruska and Jen Platt, founder, and executive director, respectively, and the Board of Directors of the Institute for allowing me to use PRI materials for teaching, for their generous support, as well as for creating the science!

We are hopeful to be able to teach more students again next year! Thanks again, Dr. Gosselin and staff, for welcoming me into your state-of-the-art technology classroom fully equipped with treatment tables and anything else an instructor could want! What an awesome experience!

Lisa Mangino, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, PRC

Posted July 29, 2021 at 3:24PM

Categories: Science

0 Comments

Dr. James Carlson Publications & A Sneak Peak at the 2022 Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium

Although Ron thought this year's symposium was going to be the last symposium of this kind, his heart has been tugged to do yet another. It wasn't more than 3 days after we wrapped up this year's symposium in April, that we had the wonderful opportunity to sit on a video conference call with Dr. James Carlson. Dr. Carlson is a retired dentist, and Ron has admired his work for many years. You might recall some references to his first book, "Physiologic Occlusion" in some of our secondary and tertiary courses. Well, as a result of that conference call a few months ago, we knew we had to do one more symposium and thus we have invited Dr. Carlson to present at our 2022 Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium, which will be titled "The Stomatognathic System - An Interdisciplinary Approach in the Management of Spatial Navigation and Structural Strength". More information will be coming in the next few months!

But for now, be sure to SAVE THE DATE for April 21-22, 2022!

In addition to inviting Dr. Carlson to be our featured speaker for next year's symposium, we are also now excited to be an official retailer for two of the books that he has authored, which are wonderful supportive materials for a few PRI courses including Cervical Revolution, Occlusal Cervical Restoration and this upcoming 2022 Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium. There are so many great illustrations and figures in these two books, each of which is 200+ pages. These books are now available for purchase on-site at the Institute, and they can also be ordered by phone (888.691.4583), or by completing this order form and emailing it too us at info@posturalrestoration.com.

James Carlson Physiologic Occlusion