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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 2006

The Postural Restoration Institute™ announces that Larry A. Gruver, MPT, ATC, PRC of The Rejuvenation Center in Chandler, Arizona; Michael Cantrell, MPT, PRC of The Cantrell Center in Warner Robins, Georgia; and Roberta Delfun, PT, PRC of Impact Physical Medicine and Prism Aquatic Center in St. Paul, Minnesota have earned the designation of Postural Restoration Certified (PRC). Certification is 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, LLC. The certification process of both clinical and analytical examination took place on December 11th and 12th, 2006 at the Postural Restoration Institute™ following four-days of advanced training. We congratulate these three on their outstanding achievement! Fifteen individuals are now recognized as the only physical therapists nationwide to be Postural Restoration Certified.

Posted December 12, 2006 at 4:22PM
Categories: Clinicians

For nearly 70 years, Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox have enjoyed fame of massive proportions, even being named by Eastman Kodak as one of the most photographed icons in the nation. But this year, Paul and Babe will have to get used to the dark — the Bemidji spotlight now shines on a new set of hometown heroes: the men’s and women’s Olympic curling teams.

For the athletes and for the entire Bemidji community, the chance to represent the U.S. in the Olympics was a dream come true. Behind the scenes, though, for two members of the women’s team, this dream — so close to becoming a reality — was slipping away.

Just weeks before they were to fly out to Torino, Jamie Johnson and Maureen Brunt were worried, to say the least. During what should have been key training and preparation time, the women found themselves sitting practice out, nursing painful injuries rather than curling.

Jamie’s pulled hamstring and Maureen’s IT band injury (which caused the muscles of her hip, knee and ultimately her entire left leg to be painful and tight) could not have happened at a worse time. “At practice I was already at the point where I couldn’t curl,” Maureen remembers. “I was so nervous that the injury would be a huge setback in Torino.” Jamie, too, was affected “not only physically, but mentally as well.”

Determined to get back on the ice fast, the women turned to MeritCare Bemidji physical therapists Megan Bollinger and Paula Vigen for help. Vigen had worked with Maureen before, but recognizing the need for immediate results, she consulted Bollinger about a new revolutionary technique called postural restoration. “This technique is designed to improve movement, posture and breathing,” says Bollinger. “It targets the body as a whole by using special exercises and repositioning to help the body function more efficiently as one unit.”

Very aware of the fast-approaching Olympic games, the physical therapists wasted no time in beginning treatment. Attending practices, visiting with the coach, consulting the trainer and guiding and training the women, Bolligner, with Vigen’s support, used postural restoration to quickly get the women back on track. “With this intensive program, we were able to achieve excellent results quickly, accomplishing about two months’ traditional strengthening in just one-and-a-half weeks,” Bollinger says.

Bollinger and Vigen were very pleased with the women’s progress. “It was very exciting to treat these individuals and see the great results that occurred. It’s always rewarding when patients do well after therapy,” says Vigen. No one, however, could have been happier with the outcome than Maureen and Jamie. “The treatment really helped with the pain — it was such a relief!” Maureen noted. For Jamie, the therapy went above and beyond treating her symptoms; it even improved her pre-injury aim. “I learned so much about myself and my body. It [the postural restoration technique] will help me continue to improve my game,” Jamie said.

With the help of the MeritCare Bemidji physical therapists, Jamie and Maureen were able to overcome their injuries, regain their confidence and ultimately live their dream of competing in the Olympic games. During their time in Torino, the women, with the help of their trainer (who received guidance from Bollinger), continued their postural restoration exercises. Neither was bothered by her injury during competition.

Though the Olympics are over, both Jamie and Maureen plan to continue to use the techniques they learned during their treatment, whether injured or not. Jamie, in fact, never intends to stop. “I plan to keep curling for a very long time and I want to be sure my legs and body can keep up,” she says. “I will use the exercises for the rest of my life.”

Like Paul Bunyan and Babe, Jamie, Maureen and their peers on the men’s and women’s Olympic curling teams have become icons. Their hard work, dedication, talent and passion have captured admiration not only in Bemidji, but on a worldwide scale as well. The legend of the Bemidji Olympic curlers, however, is still being written. “The beauty of curling is that there’s always more to strive for,” says Maureen. “Now that we’ve gotten a taste [of the Olympics], we definitely plan to be back.”

Michelle M. Roers
Public Relations & Communications
MeritCare Health System

Posted March 3, 2006 at 4:15PM
Categories: Articles

The following article has been added to PRI references for Zone of Apposition.

This article provides evidence that lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) improves spirometric parameters, lung volumes, diaphragm strength, increased diaphragm length (ZOA), and improvement in maximum exercise performance.

PRI techniques performed clinically are the non-surgical avenue for reducing hyperinflation and therefore achieving the same outcomes seen here with surgical intervention.

Lando Y, Boiselle PM, Shade D, Furukawa S, Kuzma AM, Travaline JM, Criner GJ. Effect of lung volume reduction surgery on diaphragm length in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999 Mar;159(3):796-805.

Full text available at:
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org

Posted March 3, 2006 at 4:10PM
Categories: Articles

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