Had a beautiful weekend with Kasey Aikin, DPT, PRC in my home state of Nevada teaching Myokinematic Restoration to a really great group. A big thank you to our generous host at the University of Nevada Sports Medicine, Jay Henke, M.Ed, LAT, ATC. He made us feel right at home in every way and even provided me with a list of his favorite local places to eat, which is a treat for a foodie like me. The University of Nevada Reno is nestled in the mountains and foothills of northwest Nevada, which is something you really need to see if you haven't been. As an alumni of the University of Nevada, I have really come to appreciate the northwestern Nevada beauty of Reno, Carson City and Lake Tahoe. Returning to my home state helped me again appreciate all the great people who live there.

And it was a treat to be able to co-teach with the newest PRI faculty member in training, Kasey Aikin, DPT, PRC. She does a great job with the Myokinematic Restoration course material and is really able to connect with the class attendees. She is from the great state of Texas and she brings a hospitality all her own wherever she goes. It was an honor to get to team-teach this course with her and to get to both teach and learn from her this weekend. She reaffirmed what I already knew about our PRI Faculty, that we are all unique with our own unique gifts, attributes and passions that allow us to connect in special ways with a variety of course attendees. Kasey is definitely passionate and she made the course experience great for everyone in attendance.

This Myokinematic Restoration course material is really useful for all types of clinicians as well as sports medicine and strength and conditioning professionals for a variety of reasons. First, it outlines which muscles are needed for non-compensatory gait mechanics when in the Left AIC Pattern and what the specific deficits are on each side. Second, it explains and outlines the use of Ligamentous Muscle as a powerful resource for stabilizing hip joint or pelvis instabilities. And third, it provides 2 powerful resources, The Hruska Adduction Lift Test and the Hruska Abduction Lift Test, to monitor pelvic and hip gait performance in all 3 dimensions.

 
I was first drawn to the science of Postural Restoration via the material in this course. It challenged my thinking and gave me a structural framework for prescribing movement and outlining performance that I rely on heavily to this day. The course is a great introduction to PRI for people from all backgrounds and it remains one of my favorite to review, utilize and teach.

This image popped up on my "Facebook Memories" this morning, and it was perfect timing because I was planning to do a post this week with some tips for preparing your application for PRC or PRT credentialing. Eight years ago, I was practicing full time as a PT at the Hruska Clinic. 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 8 years ago, and now the Director of Education and Credentialing running the show), I want to take a moment to share some tips and more information to ease your anxiety about the process.

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 8 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 8 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 plan to share more information and answer questions throughout the week on social media, so if you are on Instagram or Facebook, follow PRI and ask away!

Lastly, in case anyone was wondering how that triathalon went the next day (8 years ago), it was an experience that I have chosen not to do again, but I must admit I was not fully prepared for what I signed up for (it was a last minute decision and challenge with some friends)...but we survived!

Hello PRI nation! This past weekend’s trip to Georgia has reminded me of some of the many ways this Institute called PRI is exceptional. As has always been the case, every organization that is foundational and exceptional is so largely because of its people.

Mentor, friend, PRI faculty team member, and mayor of Mayberry, Mike “Hops” Cantrell, helped me feel at home at Fox Valley Farm in Georgia in more ways than I have room here to describe. The attentive, kind and graceful people who attended the course at Mercer University enjoyed learning and treated this instructor well, with excellent dialogue and focus during didactics and labs. The gentleman who helped set up the course so that we could teach, Mr. Amos Mansfield, enjoyed doing his part to spread the science of PRI to others. This instructor thoroughly enjoyed teaching the science of Pelvis Restoration in the great state of Georgia, as did another friend, mentor and exceptionally bold, popular PRI faculty team member The Jen Poulin (TJP), who came in to teach day two when I was unexpectedly called away. Jen was nothing short of an ace closer last weekend! Thank you Jason Robey for your sense of humor and for that one second pause.

Thank you Jeremy Fradin, Michael Finley, Joni Robertson and several more for your effort and assistance with demonstrations and labs. Thank you to the whole class for your kindness and attentiveness as we navigated Pelvis Restoration theory, terminology, objective tests, facilitation and inhibition strategies to ultimately oppose polyarticular patterns that present initially. There were many reasons for my being there--each of you!

The seeds of PRI science have been planted in the birthplace of philosophy. We have all seen the beneficiaries of Ron Hruska’s Socratic style of teaching. Sharing PRI wisdom in Athens was a natural fit.  
 
Praxis Physical Therapy in Athens graciously hosted this Intro to PRI seminar. Mimi Marsellou PT/ Μιμή Μαρσέλλου PT, M.Sc. and Foteni Largari PT / Φωτεινή Λάγαρη PT have owned and run a women’s health and general PT practice for over 20 years.   
 
How did this come about? A unique professional connection to Greece:
Having had the great fortune to have lived in Greece for 6 years, working in Athens as a PT from 2000 to 2004, including being a PT for the Greek Olympic Committee/Athens summer Olympic and Paralympic games in 2004. When I returned to the US, and discovered PRI in 2008, obtained a PRC certification in 2011 with the culmination of opening my own PRI Center in 2014. Like Odysseus traveling so far only to return home again; this summer presented the opportunity of introducing PRI to rehab professionals in Athens. It is no surprise that they are eager for more.
 
Now that they have been exposed to PRI concepts, there are plans for the home study courses in the near future.   
Who knows, perhaps hosting a course as well. “OPA” PRI!