I took the PRI course this weekend on Postural Respiration. I was reviewing my manual and came across some exercises for left posterior mediastinum inhibition. I am curious why we would want to inhibit this area as I know there are techniques in the manual that help with left posterior mediastinum expansion.
Thank you for reaching out. This a common question.
The Posterior Mediastinum Inhibition program exists because we need to EXPAND the left posterior mediastinum. The terminology definitely can be confusing. I would define inhibition as the need to shut down, reduce, turn down, dial down, or “quiet down”. For the Posterior Mediastinum (and Posterior Outlet/Posterior Capsule as well), we need inhibition, because they are overactive (because of the position and/or muscle overactivity in a Left AIC/Right BC pattern) and they need to be reduced/dialed down and lengthened (expanded). For example, the Left Posterior Mediastinum needs to be inhibited and expanded, because of how the back of the rib cage is positioned in IR (more so than the muscles of the posterior mid-back being overactive), and the front side of the rib cage is flared (externally rotated and elevated) and the IO/TAs are weak and inactive in a Left AIC/Right BC pattern.
Therefore, we are facilitating Left Posterior Mediastinum EXPANSION. We are not facilitating or engaging muscle activity of the Posterior Mediastinal region, but rather we are facilitating AIRFLOW to that posterior mid-back region, which is expansion and inhibition of the muscles in that area, that needs to occur while maintaining a Left ZOA with abdominal opposition (so not to allow the left anterior ribs to flare and air to fill the anterior chest wall).
Hope this helps clear up your confusion.
– Jen Platt