In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast I am joined by Jason Miller, PT, MS, CSCS, PRC. Jason graduated from Ithaca College in 1999 and started his career as a Physical Therapist in NY state working with individuals with developmental disabilities. In 2000, he moved to Missoula, MT and began a 20-year career in the outpatient orthopedic setting. After a decade of work in this setting Jason was first introduced to the science of PRI by a colleague, Kevin Vogelzang. Jason has always been fascinated by biomechanics and in 2011 took his first PRI course which was the catalyst for a paradigm shift in his approach to physical medicine.

Jason discusses his early years of integrating PRI into an orthopedic setting while being on a PRI island. He discusses the difficulties of applying PRI on your own, while appreciating the baby steps along the way. Some of his earliest success was achieved by selecting the appropriate clientele to introduce a new approach to. By starting with the right client, his early integration of repositioning had much better success. We go on to discuss how general PRI treatment looked like for Jason in a large outpatient, post-op setting, and some of the limitations he faced as well as how they affected his desire to treat and integrate areas other than the site of post operative care.

In 2016, he joined the largest orthopedic practice in western Montana and later became the therapy department supervisor.  He provided numerous in-services and had many discussions with his fellow therapists and AT’s as well as the MD’s and PA’s we worked with.  He has never forgotten the challenge of understanding and applying PRI from an orthopedic mindset and is passionate about helping smooth the transition for others.

In 2017, he received 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 ®.

Jason opened J Miller Physical Therapy in 2020 and currently practices in Missoula. Jason’s ongoing history and passion for teaching others was soon recognized by the Institute and in 2021 began training to teach Myokinematic Restoration which he has now instructed several times as he became a Faculty member of the Postural Restoration Institute. Jason is an avid outdoors man, skiing, fishing, hiking and enjoying all that the state of Montana has to offer!

Listen to Episode 33 HERE, or on your favorite podcast player!

In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast I am joined by Craig Depperschmidt, DPT, PRC. Craig grew up in Loveland, CO and finished his degree in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.  After spending a summer biking across the country, he headed to Flagstaff, Arizona, where he graduated with distinction from Northern Arizona University with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.  From an early age, due to an active lifestyle, Craig became aware how a restriction or injury in one area of his body effected his whole system, and through multiple sports and associated injuries he learned the value of an integrated approach. In 2011 Craig attended the Advanced Integration course and for the first time in over a decade, was able to run without pain through his feet, shins, and low back. Craig credits this moment in his personal and professional journey, to a single technique, the Standing Supported Wall Reach, which for the first time allowed him to feel the effects of respiration in the thorax throughout his lower extremities. From this point on he was hooked.

In 2010 the clinic Craig work for at the time hosted both the Postural Respiration and Myokinematic Restoration courses and this exposure provided a foundation for the rest of Craig’s PRI journey. One particular statement regarding the observations of a Left AIC pattern, pushed Craig to prove it within his own clinical setting, and from there his love for the PRI primary object tests was born. From these first two courses Craig has since aimed to perform the associated tests with every patient who came through his door. This A-B-A experimental design of performing the tests, followed by technique intervention and finally re-testing, became standard for Craig and is something he is still passionate about as a provider, mentor, and faculty member today.

Craig and I go on to discuss how he uses a PRI approach within his population of clientele, primarily consisting of endurance athletes and weekend warriors. Craig’s own experiences as a triathlete, endurance runner and cyclist allow him to connect with his patients on a personal level. We go on to discuss how to appropriately introduce the concepts of sensory integration and positional education within this population and some of the ways Craig helps his patients make sense of themselves, particularly in the environments and spaces that they may not train or perform in. Craig is also Bikefit trained and uses his passion and knowledge to integrate PRI into cycling.

Craig became a PRC provider in 2012 and through attending PRI courses met his current colleague Brian Benjamin, DPT, PRC. Brian and Craig would go on to create ProActive PT in Fort Collins, CO. Today they are surrounded by an integrative team with the opportunity to mentor not only those interested in PT schooling but also the general public through several yearly events within their community. Outside of his community in Fort Collins, Craig is excited to be joining the PRI Faculty and will begin teaching Myokinematic Restoration in 2023. These communities of PRI practitioners and mentorship from faculty and others, have allowed Craig to share his passions with others and we are so excited for him to be able to share them with all of you!

In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast I am joined by Brad Gilden, who graduated with a Masters of Science from New York Medical College in 2000 and a Clinical Doctorate in upper quarter and hand therapy, from Drexel University in 2004. Since his schooling Brad has completed several certifications including the completion of  the Functional Manual Therapy training and Fellowship from the Institute of Physical Art (IPA), alongside many others. Early on in his career Brad knew he wanted more out of his role as a provider, than the 15 minutes he was being allotted per patient. This journey led him to multiple rehab settings dealing with both acute and chronic pain presentations, neurological disorders and amputees. This journey ultimately led Brad to start his private practice, Elite Health Services, in 2005. Allowing him to start incorporating more into his clinical practice working alongside Strength Trainers, Pilates Instructors and many other movement professionals as he built his model around this team approach.

 In 2010 he was introduced to Dr. Michael Gelb as a patient and felt the effects of dental integration first hand, for the first time. This experience opened Brads mind to the power of autonomic regulation via an oral appliance and he knew that many people patterns would be very challenging to dissociate without this missing piece of the puzzle. This experience opened the door to his conversations with dentists as a whole and his appreciation for their role. While realizing for the first time that dentists where not only open to collaboration with him in his role, but they were searching for it as well.

As both Brads integration with dentistry and his collaboration with Dr. Gelb grew, he was quickly surrounded by others searching for the same integration. This led him to Dr. Howard Hindin who together with Dr. Gelb, founded the American Academy of Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry (AAPMD). As their movement of collaboration together grew, Brad was given the opportunity to present at their second Annual Conference. Sharing the stage with people like Mariano Racobato, Roger Price, Jennifer Hobson, and Barry Raphael among many other well known speakers. It was after his presentation focused around the role of the diaphragm and its influence on the orofacial complex as a whole, that Heather Carr first introduced him to the work of Ron Hruska. Shortly after Brad took his first Postural Respiration course.

In 2016, Brad was given the opportunity to organize the PT Track of the Annual AAPMD conference and he knew that he needed to try and get both Ron and PRI as a whole involved. After a series of meetings Ron agreed to present for the first time as part of the 2017 collaboration cures convention. As a result of the series of courses and collaboration through PRI that Brad had completed, including mentorship alongside Ron working together in Manhattan, Brad became Postural Restoration Certified in 2020.

Brad and I discuss the history of our shared collaboration over the past several years. And specifically, his journey of integrating with the field of dentistry and the idea of “standing on the shoulder of giants, and passing their work onto the world”. To end our conversation Brad discusses how the evolution of the Physical Therapy track has grown, which this year will include Myofunctional Therapy and other therapists collaborating together in one place. Brad goes on to discuss this years AAPMD Collaboration Cures Convention on September 15-18th. For more information on this years meeting, the agenda and speaker line up, as well as a PT Track Discount I encourage you to visit the AAPMD Collaboration Cures page for more information.

In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast I am joined by Joan Hanson who is a Physical Therapist located in Sioux Falls, SD. Joan has been practicing physical therapy for 30 years and for most of those years has done so with Sanford Health Systems. As we navigate her career and how PRI has shaped and directed it, it is clear to see why Joan was awarded the PRI Directors Dedication Award this past April for her ongoing commitment to this science. In 1992, she earned her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from the Mayo School of Health-Related Sciences in Rochester, MN. Joan started her private practice, Physical Therapy Solutions, in 1999 after several years in various outpatient settings.

Later that year, Joan was introduced to Protonics  and encouraged to take a course. Because of a prior knee injury, on the right side, Joan was selected as a model in this course and sensed what a left hamstring could do for her right sided knee pain for the first time. Joan discusses how this first encounter with asymmetry and using both sides of the body to treat it, shaped her practice from the beginning. In 2001 Joan took her first Myokinematic Restoration course and began applying the science with her patients. Over the following two decades Joan would go on to complete over 30 PRI courses, and discusses how this journey has directly shaped her clinical practice.

In 2008 Joan sold her practice to Sanford Health. This partnership has allowed her and her clinical staff to continue to use PRI  over the years. We discuss both the challenges and opportunities this partnership has provided as well as some of the people that were involved along the way. As she continued to run her practice under the lens of PRI based treatment, Joan has mentored and collaborated with many clinicians introducing asymmetrical concepts, breathing and positional sense along the way.

Although she had this community around her, the science was in its early years and the resources that exist today were not all always available. As a way to get more involved with the PRI community and other clinicians apart of it, Joan completed her PRC certification in 2005 as part of the second class. Joan goes on to discuss how this and other opportunities allowed her to stay connected to the science. Throughout the years Joan has taken advantage of nearly every opportunity available to ask questions, stay connected, and continue to learn through not only course offerings but also the many other resources that have since been created. We discuss how these resources, such as the PRIVY platform, PRI Google group, and many trips to Lincoln have helped Joan answer her questions over the years. Early on Joan recalls taking advantage of one-on-one clinical time spent alongside Ron Hruska, seeing first hand how each repositioning activity was meant to be performed and who they were meant for.

As Joan continued to incorporate PRI activities with her patients, she discusses the importance of relying on the tests to confirm ones ability to alternate, breathe and sense both sides of their bodies. These basic concepts are often the start point of her treatment and we discuss the importance of “the process” and how often times these concepts can be overlooked by trying to progress through integration of systems too quickly, or with patients that may not need integration of multiple systems. Throughout the years Joan has not only desired to learn and grow with this science individually, but has always attempted to share and help those around her learn and utilize it as well.  This has increased her interest in things like dance, sleep, audiology, boxing, and many others as she integrates PRI into her everyday life.

In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast I welcome Torin Berge, PT, MPT, PRC who practices at the Hruska Clinic and plays a vital role within the PRIME Program. Growing up Torin spent countless hours in a Pediatric PT setting with his brother who diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy was in and out of therapy frequently. It was during this time that his love for the profession grew. Torin graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1999 with his Masters in Physical Therapy. Torin was also an avid swimmer and swam throughout college and his entire childhood. Although he appreciates the foundation received in schooling he acknowledges that he was introduced to many "whats" but never really received the "whys" behind the symptoms or diagnosis studied.

To start his career Torin provided care across pediatric clinics, and across both outpatient and acute hospital settings, but he quickly realized there had to be something more, a piece still missing. Torin was led to the PRI coursework through the community in Souix City, including Jane Stanley who got him to his first Protonics course. During which he heard someone discussing the relationship between the lower extremities and the cervical spine for the first time. Even though much of the science was still new at the time, Torin knew that there would be more to come, and slowly the "whys" behind all of his questions started being addressed. During these early years of coursework Torin began incorporating the science within his practice, but like many, continued to hit roadblocks along the way. The inability to incorporate PRI into his clinical setting helped him make the decision to look elsewhere.

In 2011, Torin joined the Hruska Clinic in Lincoln, Nebraska and has been growing ever since. Shortly after accepting this position and moving his family, Torin became credentialed as part of the 2012 PRC Class. The timing of Torin’s presence here coincided with a time period of tremendous growth within the Integration of PRI concepts. Not only was he surrounded with great colleagues who had been using PRI for decades, but he was now also a part of integrating with Optometrists, Dentists and Podiatrists on a regular basis. PRI Vision underwent its foundational years with his involvement, and the incorporation of dental integration was being explored like never before. These were the early days of integration, "pre-PRIME", and the level of exploration, integration, and evolving treatments, were at an all time high.

As time went on, similar patterns of patient care became apparent. Patients came from international places because no other provider could find the "why" behind their "what" problem. The pieces of these patients’ puzzles were not being put together, and even when each piece of dysfunction had been appropriately managed, they still failed to manage the  integration long term. Out of these years, working alongside Ron Hruska and the entire integrative team, the Postural Restoration Institute Multidisciplinary Engagement (PRIME) Program was founded. It too continued to evolve over the years and has remained a focal point of the PRI community when looking for models of integrative care. Today Torin and his team work not only with extremely hard to manage cases, but also with other PRI Providers, to provide guidance, support and treatment for patients and their providers they may already be working with. Through PRIME the pieces of the Podal, Occlusal, Visual and multiple other systems are put together and continuously managed by Torin and his colleagues, "The Integrators".

Listen to Episode 29 HERE.

In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast,  I sat down with Dr. James Carlson, DDS who will be presenting at our 13th Annual Interdisciplinary Integration symposium on April 21-22nd. Dr. Carlson began studying gnathological principles while still a student at the University of Minnesota dental school nearly 60 years ago. While there, he had the opportunity to study under one of the top gnathologists at the time, Dr. Charles Stewart, and learn his techniques using the Stewart Articulator. From then on, he knew he wanted to pursue a dental career studying these principles. Following his dental schooling, Dr. Carlson spent 3 years in the Navy, eventually settling into his first private practice in Alaska. In his early years of  clinical practice, he began studying and applying the concepts of Centric Relation (CR) of the temporomandibular joints, and Centric Occlusion (CO) of the bite. Around this time, he was also introduced to the concept of "Dental Kinesiology", published by George Eversaul. These studies and others, allowed Dr. Carlson to see the influence that the neuromuscular system has on jaw position. Throughout these early years his "patients became his professors" and he has continued to learn from them and numerous other integrative minds throughout his career.

Dr. Carlson began introducing these concepts within his appliance fabrication  and began to see an even greater influence of the neuromuscular system on dentition. His appliances at the time were meant to calibrate the maxilla to the mandible through the use of vertical height, anterior/posterior guidance and other qualities. This led him to the work of Dr. Barney Jankelson, who is widely known as the founder of Physiological Dentistry. From this point, his career was focused on Form vs. Function within the Stomatognathic system. This thinking led him to collaborate with not only numerous other dentists, but also included a 20 year partnership with an integrative chiropractor who also introduced him to the influence of Podiatry and the foots influence on posture. Through these collaborations, he was introduced to the Acculiner System which he spent many years selling and training others on its use. During this period he learned the importance of a level bite plane, and has promoted the concept ever since.

Throughout his career, Dr. Carlson has authored numerous papers and publications. Starting off with "Beyond Dental Care", which he summarizes as "everything I wasn’t taught in Dental School". We then discuss his original publication which was titled "Physiologic Occlusion" but was retitled "Orthocranial Occlusion & Dentition Design" following the release of a new edition. And "Analyzing the Stomatognathic System", in which the concepts of "Form vs. Function" of the entire system is addressed more globally. These publications played a large role in Ron’s own study of the stomatognathic system and Dr. Carlson’s experience and passion for these concepts were a primary factor in the decision to host this years symposium,  "The Stomatognathic System – An Interdisciplinary Approach in the Management of Spatial Navigation and Structural Strength". We end our discussion joined by Ron to discuss how they plan to navigate these concepts through their presentations next month. We are very excited for the opportunity to introduce our PRI community to Dr. Carlson and these topics as Ron Hruska, Dr. James Carlson and Jason Masek collaborate throughout this years symposium.

Listen to Episode 28. HERE!

In this episode of the Postural Restoration podcast I start off the year by reflecting on the past with none other than Susan Henning. Susan’s career has led her through various chapters of clinical growth but finding a likeminded thought process and sensory based system like Postural Restoration, remains a highlight of her journey. Susan graduated from NYU in 1986 with a BA in Physical Therapy. She worked in major medical centers first in New York City, later in San Francisco, CA. Her early interest was in neurological rehabilitation. Due to a longstanding interest in dance and movement she began studies in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy in the early 90’s. She pursued training in manual physical therapy approaches including Paris, Maitland, Mulligan and Jackson. But perhaps one of her biggest interests lays in the study of sensory awareness. From early on in her career Susan sought after schools of thinking that integrated holistic sensory based concepts and this led her to the work of Charolette Silver. This mindset has remained throughout her career as she has aimed to enrich her patients lives through sense of ones self.

One of her earliest clinical settings was in a SNIF facility where she was introduced to Sangini Rane. Together they remained interested in furthering their education and through this journey were introduced to other like minded individuals such as Kyndall Boyle and Jean Masse through a Maitland certification course. Later on the opportunity would arise for Susan to purchase Advance Physical Therapy in Chapel Hill, NC, from Krista Clark who instructed her Maitland coursework. From its beginning Advance Physical Therapy has strived to incorporate sensory integration with each patient. Today it is recognized for its focus on the treatment and prevention of scoliosis and other spinal dysfunctions. As a PRI center Advance physical therapy and all of its clinicians offer a unique skillset applying PRI within this population.

In 2002 Susan was introduced to the extraordinary work of Ron Hruska, and Postural Restoration. She was immediately drawn to its holistic, biomechanically based concepts and powerful therapeutic techniques. This was the beginning of a major paradigm shift in her way of viewing and treating dysfunction. She was later certified as a Postural Restoration Therapist in 2008. For Susan not only was the science and techniques themselves so powerful, but the family nature of the institute and those who at the time were involved with its growth, provided Susan with the desire to continue to return to PRI courses and learn more. Beginning in 2004 attending the newly offered Advanced Integration course, Susan has not missed this 4-day course since and has now contributed to day 4 “curvature of the spine” for many years. Her early attendance alongside Joe Belding, PT, PRC, was pivotal in the creation of what is now discussed as PRI Anatomy Families by Color. Her dedication and contributions to this course over the years has continued to grow as fellow colleagues Jean Masse and Lisa Mangino continue to present their work together alongside Susan each year.

Susan has continued to pursue the complexities of Postural Restoration rehabilitation. Her fascination with asymmetry, respiration and movement brought about an interest in scoliosis. And in 2013, Susan was certified in Schroth based scoliosis rehabilitation as taught by the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School. She is very interested in combining these two tri-planar, asymmetrical and respiratory based methodologies to provide powerful treatment tools for this complex condition.  In 2014, Susan was honored to be invited as a member of SOSORT – The ‘International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment‘.  She is one of only a handful of American Physical Therapists with this designation. More recently this led to the opportunity to co-author alongside her colleagues, “Postural Restoration: A Tri-Planar Asymmetrical Framework for Understanding, Assessing, and Treating Scoliosis and Other Spinal Dysfunctions” which was published in “Innovations in Spinal Deformaities and Postural Disorders” in 20217.

Susan remains passionate about the ever evolving science of Postural Restoration and incorporating all of her education, especially Scroth based therapy to it. This has led to the creation of the S.T.R.A.T.E.R Scoliosis Institute, which stands for “Spinal Triplanar Rehabilitation for Asymmetrical Torsion with Exercise & Respiration”. This endeavor is dedicated to the education of physical therapy professionals for the safe and effective treatment of scoliosis incorporating PRI concepts and approved techniques.

In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast I am delighted to talk with Ruth Hennessy who has spent her career combining the studies of bodywork and movement with her classical education as a singing and voice coach. While growing up Ruth was exposed to many styles of singing but it was her mother, a professional opera singer who first introduced her to implementing yoga and other "bodywork" routines into her personal voice development. Since then Ruth has constantly experimented with various forms of movement techniques bridging the gap between the physical body and the auditory production of sound. Her career has led her to teach many professional singers of various backgrounds, as well as average individuals working on their own vocal production. Her experience has allowed her to share her teachings in various collegiate settings and most recently through "Hennessy Breath and Body" teachings and workshops.

Her history involves the study of numerous "bodywork" modalities some which are commonly known such as Yoga, Pilates, The Alexander Technique, and the Thompson Method, while others took her on journeys less traveled which she discusses during our conversation. Ruth considers herself a Polyglot (in the educational sense) and continues to search for others like her to learn from and collaborate with. Some of her closest Mentors include Kathy Thompson, Joan Lader, and Karen Coe who she partners with in NYC. The difference between  her and others around her is her ability to look at more then just the "little box" while including the structure and physiological function of what positions the voice box itself and helps guide its production of sound. Ruth has long incorporated the breath and breathing mechanics into her work and eventually this would overlap with the Concepts of PRI.

While looking for speakers for our annual interdisciplinary integration symposium in 2019 titled "Airway Oscillation: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Production of Voice, Airflow, and Resonance Frequency Breathing" Ron was led to Ruth and quickly saw her passion for an integrated approach. While looking into her work, Ron noticed Ruth’s use of balloons on her website during her workshop and knew he wanted to learn more.  This relationship has since led not only to her presentation during the 2019 symposium but to integrating this these concepts side by side with Ron and her singers in NYC and through virtual consults.

Because of their time together, these workshops, and their shared clients over the past few years, Ron’s interest and research in the study of voice production has led to our new upcoming course tiltled "Voicebox Resonation, An Integrated Approach in the Management of Hypopharyngeal Dysfunction". Ron joins us to discuss how their time together and Ruths work as a whole have influenced his thoughts regarding this material and what this course will take into consideration. He is excited to discuss topics like neural entrainment, re-patterning, and an introceptive perception of the voice through body language, and will be discussing the voicebox from a "Pressure box" perspective. Visit Hennessy Breath and Bodywork for more information about Ruth or our website to join us for Voicebox Resonation!

Listen to this episode here.

In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast Kasey Ratliff, PT, DPT, PRC  joins us to discuss her PRI journey which most recently has provided her the opportunity to become our newest Faculty member. Kasey graduated  from Texas State University, San Marcos, with an emphasis in Exercise Sports Science and Psychology. Her interests in human behavior and helping people, led to later attending PT school at the University of Texas Galveston, medical branch. Upon graduating Kasey started her career in a larger outpatient setting near Fort Worth and discusses the transition as a new graduate into her first clinical setting as a therapist.

After remaining in this setting for several years Kasey moved to Austin in search of a different setting. It was there that her search led her to Star Physical Therapy, the first Postural Restoration Center in Texas. Working alongside two Postural Restoration Certified providers, Jon Hupp and Steve Cuddy, she was quickly introduced to the science of Postural Restoration and its clinical implementation. Through this introduction Kasey completed her first Myokinematic Restoration course in 2011 with Jennifer Poulin. Kasey’s time at Star Physical Therapy allowed her to build her general understanding of PRI concepts while being mentored by those around her.  After several years practicing in Austin Kasey moved back to Forth Worth to be closer to family. In 2015 Kasey started her private practice PRISM Physical Therapy.

Through her practice Kasey is able to provide longer, individualized sessions guiding each patient through their unique treatment goals. PRISM DPT is located within the GO Sports Complex and allows her to work and integrate her knowledge alongside athletes and the general public of all ages and levels. In this episode Kasey discusses some of the differences between her clientele and clinical approach within these populations. While building her practice Kasey’s interest in the science of PRI remained strong as she traveled to many courses across the country. In 2016 Kasey received her PRC credential alongside three other Texas residents.

Continuing to build relationships with other PRC’s and like minded professionals in the state, Kasey discusses her journey of building an integrative team of providers. Working closely with several other PRC’s in the state and building relationships with dentists and optometrists in the area allow her to offer further integration to her patients. In 2019 Kasey began training to become the newest member of our PRI Faculty.  Over the course of 2019 she had an opportunity to teach and hone in on her understanding and presentation of the Myokinematic Restoration course alongside many other faculty members. Although her first course as a solo presenter was slightly delayed due to the COVID 19 pandemic, Kasey recently taught her first Myokinematic Restoration course as both a Live and Live Stream offering.

Listen to Episode 25 here

In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast we are joined by Neal Hallinan, CSCS, LMT, PRT who provides a unique understanding of the science of PRI, through his first hand experience as both a patient and Postural Restoration Trained (PRT) Provider. Neal’s career started in the field of Information Technology and through several life events and the pursuit of finding something he was truly passionate about, his path lead him to the study of movement. Throughout his early life Neal recalls a longstanding history of pain. His history included not only Hip Impingement, but also periods of plantar fasciitis, neck and back spasms, tinnitus, and general tensegrity across his joints. During a period of time spent living in Brazil, Neal first recognized the freedom of movement that many people living there expressed through dance. As his introduction and interest in this art of expression grew Neal spent considerable time learning the steps and sequences of various styles of dance and fell in love with the influences of rhythm, percussion and beat that were included.

Through his newly discovered interest in various forms of dancing, Neal recognized a relationship between his hip mobility and a decrease in his plantar fasciitis, and became curious to learn more. His interest in movement eventually led him to become an ACE certified Personal Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA. It was while reading an article on Eric Cressey’s Blog, that Neal was first exposed to the science of PRI. This discussion introduced Neal to the influence of respiration and breathing mechanics of which at the time he had never considered. Neal took his first Myokinematic Restoration course to better understand the relationship of "Lumbo-Pelvic-Femoral Pathomechanics" and first learned about the L AIC Pattern.

"This was it" Neal recalls. As he had finally found answers to the patterns and positions he had noticed over time in his own body. From there Neal started recognizing and studying the patterns as described and addressed through PRI coursework. Neal discusses the influences our everyday lives contribute to these patterns and how his job as a provider and trainer is to not only recognize where and why they exist, but also use the correct terminology in addressing these patterns with his clientele. Neal’s patient perspective and his own journey through pain and discomfort provide him a unique foundation for helping others. He recalls his own personal journey changing when he could fully appreciate grounding and true sensory integration for the first time and discusses how in today’s virtual world he tries to help his clients achieve the same level of sensory awareness through the use of PRI based principles and techniques.

Today Neal offers a variety of resources not only for his clients but for the PRI community as a whole. Through his website and training (pritrainer.com) or his broad YouTube Channel, hundreds of people searching for this science are provided with additional resources and information to guide them. Neal continues to instruct and remains active through various dance classes and instructing people primarily through Salsa based styles. Neal’s interest in Latin motion and so many other forms of rhythmic movement, provided a natural fit to this years 12th Annual Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium, focusing on movement disorders and Basal Ganglia Disease. Together with Ron Hruska, Neal walks us through some of the topics he will be presenting and how these concepts will tie into movement disorders as a whole through collaboration with fellow presenter Jennifer Smart.

Listen to Episode 24

In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast I sat down with Jennifer Smart, PT, DPT, PRC who practices clinically in Oriental, NC incorporating PRI principles and many other modalities with her patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and those who she believes exhibit "Parkinson’s like" symptoms before they are diagnosed. Jennifer discusses the impact that her life story has had on her clinical practice, including many trips across the Atlantic navigating the seas on her small sailboat. These experiences and interacting with a diverse set of  mentors and patients have collectively led to her current understanding of neurological flow, perception of time and ground forces all used for human patterned stability.

Jennifer earned both a Bachelor’s of Science and Doctorate of Physical Therapy Degree and because of the influences of neurological timing and one’s position in space whether at sea or on land, her interest in involuntary neurological movement disorders grew. After starting her clinical journey in Oriental, NC Jennifer sailed to Samoa and had the opportunity to work as the head Physical Therapist for the Samoan Olympic team. It was during this experience that she appreciated the influence of pressure and air flow throughout the body while working with an Olympic power lifter. After returning to the U.S. her love for cycling stemmed from her perception of time and her desire to decrease her speed of travel as her body became used to the slow, calculated and predictable movement across open water. Jennifer was introduced to the science of PRI through her cycling interest and a "Bike Fitting" article authored by Faculty Member Lori Thomsen. To this day Jennifer incorporates cycling with numerous clients who have been diagnosed with PD and other autonomic disorders.

After her first few courses and clinical experimentation incorporating PRI techniques into her clinical practice she had finally felt that the patterns she had recognized through her own journey were being studied and discussed by someone else. Jennifer completed twelve courses over the span of the next two years and became certified as part of the 2015 PRC Class. Jennifer has extensive training in "LSVT", "PWR", Rock Steady Boxing, and has attended and contributed to numerous Parkinson’s organizations, including the World Parkinson Congress. She has used these and various other modalities to incorporate PRI into her daily practice and weekly classes offered to her patients and individuals of all backgrounds experiencing involuntary movement disorders. Jennifer in collaboration with Ron Hruska discusses her upcoming presentations as part of this years 12th Annual Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium  "Basal Ganglia Disease – An Interdisciplinary Approach in the Management of Kinesia Paradoxica" alongside Neal Hallinan. You can read more about Jennifer’s topics of discussion and this years symposium held on April 22-23rd by visiting our website.

Listen Here

In this episode of the Postural Restoration Podcast I sat down with Jason Masek, MA, PT, ATC, CSCS, PRC who I have been fortunate to know and learn from over the past 20 years. Jason Received his undergraduate degree in Athletic Training at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, and went on to earn his Masters in Kinesiology in Minnesota while working as a graduate assistant Athletic Trainer for the Golden Gopher Football Program. Jason’s Athletic Training knowledge between these two programs covered a span of 6 years as he studied under and was mentored by a handful of Hall of Fame Athletic trainers. While at Nebraska he was fortunate to see the program earn two National Championships. Following his Athletic Training years and completing his masters, Jason earned his Physical Therapy degree from what was then know as the Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. This unique schooling offered him further exposure to holistic thinking and treatment approaches during his time there.

Jason was initially introduced to Ron Hruska while working with continuous hip and groin injuries during his time with Nebraska Athletics. While at the same time being introduced to the concepts behind the Protonics "knee brace", the use of repositioning activities and respiratory mechanics including the use of balloons. Jason carried with him some of this prior knowledge of the work Ron was doing to Minnesota, but it was not until his Physical Therapy clinical rotation that he would be able to further see and experience the use of these concepts on a broader scale alongside Ron and his patients. Through this opportunity and continual interest in this approach, following PT school Jason joined the Hruska Clinic shortly after it was established in 1999. In these first years each day was a new learning experience as the earliest form of the science of Postural Restoration was being implemented. Exercise techniques were drawn by hand, new positions were tried and tested and the foundation for the science as we know it today was solidified.

Working alongside Ron for over 20 years has provided them both with immense mentorship, clinical experimentation, and trust for the process as it has continued to evolve. The Hruska Clinic which has continued to grow and influence the ongoing evolution of this science, has always served as a clinical home of PRI as Jason and his colleagues continue their life long learning and integration of multidisciplinary care for their patients. Jason’s close connection to Ron and this approach over the last two decades has allowed him and the rest of the Hruska Clinic therapists to be part of and further develop the ongoing research, training, and clinical implementation of the science of Postural Restoration. Jason was part of the first ever Postural Restoration Certified Class of 2004 and alongside several other clinicians helped lay the foundation for this Credential and the 250 plus professionals that have completed the process since then.

Jason has supported the science in many ways throughout the years and has had numerous opportunities to influence others on personal, local, and national scales. He has presented through the National Athletic Training Association, National Strength and Conditioning Association and many other organizations in an effort to introduce the concepts of respiration, neutrality and a multiple systems approach furthering these professions and their integration with other professionals. Jason continues to be passionate for ongoing research while appreciating that the research is many times already there if you are willing to look outside your current framework to find it.

Listen to Episode 22 here.