We help busy, active people with posture training so they can feel & perform their best
The doctors at Back to Function (BTF) have taken extensive post-graduate courses with the Postural Restoration Institute®. This is a complex approach that takes many years to become proficient at using to evaluate the human body.
The BTF postural exam is more than seeing how the bones and joints of the body compare to an expected standard of good alignment. The PRI exam takes into account how the size, shape, position and pressure of the pelvic, abdominal, thoracic and cranial cavities are affecting overall body position and function. These cavities work together to coordinate 3-dimensional core movement of the body and influence the position and function of the jaw and extremities via their connection to one another via the function of the spine. Therefore, the concept of posture is not simply a choice you make to position yourself a certain way, but rather the overall position you are in because of the combined influences of all of your body systems.
When these normal imbalances are not regulated by alternating and reciprocal function during walking and breathing, a strong pattern emerges creating structural weakness, instability and even musculoskeletal pain syndromes. The asymmetrical design of the human systems can limit the movement of our functional patterns into the left hemisphere. This tendency to be limited with our body patterns to the left and excessively to the right is called right lateralization.
I use the analogy of a car’s alignment being off and the car’s steering is pulling to the right. In this car analogy, driving far and/or fast can present a real problem with this right-oriented alignment, as the car will constantly veer off to the right side, wearing the tires asymmetrically and presenting a danger to the driver of driving off the right side of the road! Of course the solution is to have a mechanic fix the car’s alignment issue.
PRI is an approach that works from inside-out to minimize the negative influence of asymmetrical airflow, muscle activity and nervous system awareness. The body works in 3-dimensional functional patterns and needs to fully alternate from one side of the body to the other in order to achieve optimal and balanced movement. PRI credentialed professionals recognize the common patterns of human posture and gait and balance these patterns through specific repositioning strategies. For more information on these strategies, please see the article, Do You Feel Crooked When You Look in the Mirror?
