What a great weekend in Virginia Beach, VA. Thank you Julie Blandin and Thrive Proactive Health for hosting Pelvis Restoration this past weekend. We had 32 course attendees and 18 of them were attending their first PRI course and several were attending their second course. It was amazing to collaborative and integrate with Physical Therapists, Movement Specialists, Trainers, Massage Therapists, Physicians, and Physicians Assistants. Lisa introduced the “Reflected” Head” of the Rectis Femoris Muscle. The proximal attachment site, attaches just superior of the acetabulum. I feel this “Reflected Head” also assists with flexion or forward rotation of the anterior inlet. I had never heard of the Reflected Head of the Rectis Femoris until this past weekend. Isn’t is so amazing to collaborate and learn from each other?!!
The course participants not only appreciated PRI repositioning or neutrality thru the Adduction Drop Test, but also appreciated how the Pelvic Ascension Drop Test and Passive Abduction Raise Test not only demonstrate frontal plane control for stance or swing phase of Forward Locomotor Movement, but also inhibition of muscle. The Hruska Abduction List test also assisted the Health Care provider with how to apply and select PRI non-manual techniques for their patient after the pelvis is repositioned. PRI tests will assist you with your PRI application with your patient.
After a nearly 18-month hiatus, it was a thrill to present Postural Respiration to my fellow clinicians in the very place the science originated. The combination of live and zoom attendees — PTs, PTAs, ATCs, Massage Therapists, Chiropractors, Students, Strength and Conditioning Specialists, a Pilates Instructor, and a Kinesiologist — hailed from the US, Canada, Germany, and Ireland.
The weekend was devoted to the asymmetrical, patterned thoracic diaphragm and its influence on the autonomic nervous system, patterned movement, and the brain’s sense of itself in space. We learned that our asymmetrical body is a necessary design for survival and is kept “in check” when we engage in varied activities throughout our lives. However, most of our patients-clients fail to do so, which kick starts pain, pathology, and injury.
As the Olympics come to their conclusion, it seems apt to compare PRI’s treatment approach to a track relay:
Leading off and exploding out of the blocks are the abdominals (internal obliques and transverse abdominus), which enable full lung expulsion of air and establish the (left hemi-) diaphragm ZOA.
The second leg, the diaphragm itself, now pulls air in with an adequate ZOA and hands off the baton to the third leg…
…the rib cage, whose external rotation and internal rotation properties are restored, particularly in the left posterior mediastinum and right apical and lateral chest wall regions.
Finally, our anchor leg, the lungs, bring the baton home. They now have the space to expand into and out of regions that were previously closed off, for the health of the many vital vessels that travel in, around, and through the thorax. Moreover, the restoration of alternating, reciprocal lung compression-expansion produces alternating, reciprocal movement, both simple and complex.
Ample lab time was devoted to assessment of the patterned body so that each attendee had confidence come Monday morning with replicating the tests on their patient-client. Instruction in manual rib cage techniques was also heavily emphasized, so that attendees had both observational and tactile sense of patterned air flow. Finally, many non-manual techniques were discussed and performed, including when and why you choose them and how to coach your patient-client through them.
Thank you to all of those who asked questions. You enhanced the course experience for all. Thank you to our avatars Brett Dougherty, PT, Matt Mandich, SCCC, CSCCA, Joshua Werk, ATC, CSCS, and Tammi Zimmerman, LMT for allowing us to bring the tests and techniques to life.
Thank you to Justin Pastoor, MS, CSCS, for your clear verbal instruction while tests and techniques were demonstrated.
I now fully understand what Ron means when he says he couldn’t have presented the material with the same easy flow and energy without the assistance of Jen Platt. Thank you for ensuring there were no technology glitches, deftly navigating the camera angles, monitoring questions, and keeping this instructor and live attendees well-hydrated and fed.
Looking forward to seeing many of you again as you continue your PRI journey!
We are excited to announce that we will soon begin offering a PRI Mini Residency Program, a formal program of post-professional education and mentorship for PRI-minded healthcare and movement professionals that is designed to enhance one’s understanding and application of PRI concepts, objective testing, and patient/client management. The foundational science from the Postural Restoration Institute’s three primary courses will be strongly emphasized by all PRI Mini Residency Centers, however each PRI Mini Residency Center offers a unique environment and experience, and many residency centers will also include exposure to interdisciplinary integration with other healthcare or movement professionals.
This PRI Mini Residency Program is designed for healthcare or movement professionals who are self-directed learners, have completed the required PRI coursework, and would like to enhance their clinical reasoning, interpersonal communication and dialogue using PRI terminology with other professionals as well as patients or clients, and application skills of the science of Postural Restoration® through one-on-one clinical education and mentorship with a PRC or PRT professional at a PRI Mini Residency Center.
To learn more about this 6-week PRI Mini Residency Program, please CLICK HERE! And stay tuned for more information coming soon to our website, including information about the approved PRI Mini Residency Centers and the application for those interested in completing a PRI Mini Residency Program!
It would be a colossal understatement to say that the last 18 months have been a substantial change for everyone on the planet. However, for this one weekend, it was very refreshing to get a slice of normalcy. It was my distinct honor to teach Myokinematic Restoration to a group of movement specialists in Lombard, IL. It was exceptionally refreshing for me to interact with this diverse and eager group of peers.
Our exploration into normal mechanics and eventually transferring into the patho-compensatory mechanics that can result from living and performing in a pattern. Discussing which muscles are properly positioned compared to muscles that are poorly positioned allowed us to proceed to testing. This is the only course in PRI that allows us to explain and have lab time specific to the Hruska Abduction and Adduction Lift tests. The relatively small class size provided us ample opportunity for lab on Day 2. This course has always had a lot of lab time built into it, and we had nearly 7 hours of lab time. We were able to explain and perform 16 PRI Non-manual activities. It was a blessing to have that much lab time.
It was wonderful to have a PRI veteran, Ryne Gioviano, in attendance. Having his perspective and insight with very helpful. Brandee Barbee, Terris Hightower, Ryan Daniels, Kasia Galica, and Shirley Montoya were exceptionally helpful with their questions and perspective. It was an honor to have Dr. Stephen Sikorsky in attendance as well. Having a chiropractor in the audience provides level of clinical experience and expertise that is undeniable and very helpful to fellow attendees.
Thank you to those who attended as it felt closer to normal. Here’s hoping we all get back to normal sooner than later.
The course description from www.posturalrestoration.com explains that "this advanced lecture and lab course explores the biomechanics of contralateral and ipsilateral myokinematic lumbo-pelvic-femoral dysfunction. Treatment emphasizes the restoration of pelvic-femoral alignment and recruitment of specific rotational muscles to reduce synergistic predictable patterns of pathomechanic asymmetry. Emphasis will be placed on restoration, recruitment, and retraining activities using internal and external rotators of the femur, pelvis, and lower trunk. Guidance will be provided on how to inhibit overactive musculature. This will enable the course participant to restore normal resting muscle position. Participants will be able to immediately apply PRI clinical assessment and management skills when treating diagnoses such as piriformis syndrome, ilio-sacral joint dysfunction, and low back strain.
About the Course Instructor
This course will be taught by Jesse Ham, PT, CMP, PRC. His biography from www.posturalrestoration.com shares that "Jess graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2004 with a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy. He began his career in Rapid City, SD at an outpatient orthopedic clinic where he worked for 8 years. As part of a team of 10 PT’s, Jess had become an active participant in continuing education. Jess’s focus on serving Western South Dakota with lifetime fitness, health and root positional cause versus peripheral symptom modification fit with PRI concepts seamlessly. He took his first course in PRI in 2006, which evolved into a now passionate interest in Postural Restoration®. When able, he took additional courses and coordinated PRI courses as a host clinic. In 2012, Jess earned 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®. At the start of 2013, he joined About You Physical Therapy with the goal of becoming a Postural Restoration Center in the near future. He thoroughly enjoys his time with patients and feels called to teach postural restoration, as it was and is central to him remaining in the profession of physical therapy. Jess is a husband and a daddy first and loves spending free time with his favorites—his wife Carrie, and his daughters Alexa, Jenna, Macie and Lillie."
About the Course Site
The Cantrell Center for Physical Therapy and Wellness, a privately-owned physical therapy clinic established in 1992, has been a Postural Restoration® Center since 2008. A Postural Restoration® Center is defined by PRI as "a place of business where at least one individual is Postural Restoration® credentialed (PRC or PRT) and all other individuals on staff who are eligible for credentialing have completed two or more PRI-sponsored courses." We’re proud to be the only Postural Restoration Center in the state of Georgia, having two PRC clinicians on staff (both of whom will be in attendance of the Myokinematic Restoration course hosted by the Cantrel Center Sep. 18-19).
Located just an hour and half from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the Cantrell Center makes for an ideal location for out of state travelers. The Cantrell Center is located nearby exits from the interstate and has multiple hotels within walking distance, adding to the convenience of attending a PRI course hosted by the Cantrell Center.
What an honor to be invited to teach PRI for a 6-week summer selective course at High Point University this past May-June to PT students in their third year! A big “Thank You!” to the staff at HPU and especially to Dr. Dora Gosselin, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, former student, and colleague of mine for the invitation! Seventeen eager students chose this selective and did a fantastic job receiving the science. They asked thoughtful questions and provided helpful feedback at the course end.
In six 4-hour classes, we were able to get through the concepts of Asymmetrical Human Design, Respiratory Zone of Apposition (ZOA), Neutrality, Right-Sided Dominance, Alternation, Respiration, Lateralization, and an Introduction to Scoliosis. We tackled 9 PRI tests and 15 non-manual techniques in 8 hours of lab. We ended with 2 assignments to give them an opportunity to explore and apply the science of PRI. They dove into the literature to see if they could find, review, and then present an article that compared the right side to the left side of the human body in any area of PT. Then, they applied their new knowledge by performing 3 PRI tests and 3 non-manual techniques followed by PRI re-testing to identify changes to a human body of their choice. These two projects/class presentations served to be learning experiences from which we all benefitted.
I was very lucky and grateful to have the incomparable Dr. Jennifer Smart as a lab TA with me on non-manual technique day! The students’ learning experience was audibly enriched by her presence! Thank you, Jen!
Finally, thank you to Ron Hruska and Jen Platt, founder, and executive director, respectively, and the Board of Directors of the Institute for allowing me to use PRI materials for teaching, for their generous support, as well as for creating the science!
We are hopeful to be able to teach more students again next year! Thanks again, Dr. Gosselin and staff, for welcoming me into your state-of-the-art technology classroom fully equipped with treatment tables and anything else an instructor could want! What an awesome experience!
Although Ron thought this year’s symposium was going to be the last symposium of this kind, his heart has been tugged to do yet another. It wasn’t more than 3 days after we wrapped up this year’s symposium in April, that we had the wonderful opportunity to sit on a video conference call with Dr. James Carlson. Dr. Carlson is a retired dentist, and Ron has admired his work for many years. You might recall some references to his first book, “Physiologic Occlusion” in some of our secondary and tertiary courses. Well, as a result of that conference call a few months ago, we knew we had to do one more symposium and thus we have invited Dr. Carlson to present at our 2022 Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium, which will be titled “The Stomatognathic System – An Interdisciplinary Approach in the Management of Spatial Navigation and Structural Strength”. More information will be coming in the next few months!
But for now, be sure to SAVE THE DATE for April 21-22, 2022!
In addition to inviting Dr. Carlson to be our featured speaker for next year’s symposium, we are also now excited to be an official retailer for two of the books that he has authored, which are wonderful supportive materials for a few PRI courses including Cervical Revolution, Occlusal Cervical Restoration and this upcoming 2022 Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium. There are so many great illustrations and figures in these two books, each of which is 200+ pages. These books are now available for purchase on-site at the Institute, and they can also be ordered by phone (888.691.4583), or by completing this order form and emailing it too us at info@posturalrestoration.com.
We are excited to introduce and congratulate our second Postural Restoration Trained (PRT) Class of this year! Every 3rd year, we offer the option of a summer testing program, in addition to the annual PRT testing dates that are held each January. This summer testing program was rescheduled from last year due to the COVID pandemic, so a few of these individuals have waited an extra year for this opportunity. PRT is the result of completing multiple advanced PRI courses, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the science through completion of the PRT application, and successfully participating in practical and analytical testing. This past weekend, four professionals earned the designation of Postural Restoration Trained (PRT) under the direction of Ron Hruska, Jason Masek and Jennifer Platt.
The Postural Restoration Institute® established this credentialing process in 2011 as a way to recognize and identify individuals with 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®. The PRT credential is available to Athletic Trainers (with Certification through the BOC), Athletic Therapists (with Certification through the CATA), Strength and Conditioning Coaches (with CSCS Certification through the NSCA or SCCC Certification through the CSCCa), Certified Special Population Specialist (with CSPS Certification through the NSCA, and completion of a Bachelor’s degree or higher degree), and Exercise Physiologists (with Certification through the ACSM) who have completed the course requirements, application and testing process. With the addition of this class, there are now 63 PRT professionals throughout the U.S and Internationally.
***NEW GRADS, UPCOMING GRADS, & EXPERIENCED CLINICIANS MAY APPLY***
The Cantrell Center for Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine is a physical therapist-owned private practice and has been serving Middle Georgia for over 29 years. A Certified Postural Restoration Center since 2008, we’re proud to employee clinicians who have a passion for the science and value our one-on-one approach to patient care. We are currently looking to hire a Physical Therapist for our booming practice!
We currently have 2 Postural Restoration Certified (PRC) clinicians in the clinic making us highly sought after by our referring physicians, our patients, and wellness members. We often have patients who travel out of town and even out of state to come to the Cantrell Center as we are the only Postural Restoration Certified Facility in the state of Georgia.
Located in Warner Robins, Georgia, the Cantrell Center is located in the Middle of the state! Just a quick drive to Atlanta or the beach, Warner Robins offers convenience to any interest without the crime rate and elevated costs of a larger city. Visit the website of Robins Regional Chamber for more information about the city of Warner Robins.
What makes The Cantrell Center a great place to work?
At the Cantrell Center, patient care is paramount and each team member’s gifts and experiences blend to create an atmosphere of integrity and encouragement. As part of our team, you will work side-by-side with like-minded and dedicated colleagues, while enjoying the opportunity to build your own career.
WE OFFER:
• Sign On Bonus
• Unique & competitive salary and generous benefits package
• Commitment to clinical excellence
• Team atmosphere
• Constant training and learning
• An excellent mentoring program for new hires – especially for new grads
This workshop was a first for Jen Platt and I. Opening the workshop with discussion on corollary consequence, correspondence and compensation allowed us to “look” at the top-down influences of PRI Corollary Movement in each of the 12 secondary and tertiary techniques that Jen chose for us to cover. She did a great job in organizing these techniques, laying them out and selecting techniques that offered the attendee a wide perspective of application. Normally, we do not list testimonials after a course. (You can find testimonials by courses by going to the ‘Programs and Courses’ site on our website). However, after reading the feedback that Hannah compiled, I felt it would be helpful for those who may be interested in taking this course in the future, as well as to read what the ‘first-time’ attendees had to say about it.
“I have already listened to at least 60% of the course material. I cannot tell you how much it helps to have the content available to go over again. This course put so many things together in regard to patterning. There were so many lightbulb moments into why things may fall apart for the patient at home with their exercise program because of the brain influence in regard to patterning. The word sense is so different than finding and feeling. Sensing something different in the body especially when sensing one thing can help the patient sense another area is HUGE in regard to making a program successful. Walking away from this course has had one of the most dramatic effects on putting the whole picture together, especially with the ability to go back and review it again. I hope that you can continue to offer the courses on zoom. I also wonder if any of the other recorded courses that were offered through zoom could ever be available as a take home course. It is nice to have that available as an option. Also wondering if Ron was ever going to put all the 33 corollary exercises together now that we understand the corollaries. I know that the other exercises are from other courses but we never had the corollaries with them. Thank you again for everything you all do!!!!”
“This course will allow me to progress all of my clients over the coming months and was a fantastic guide in sensory integration that I felt was a missing puzzle piece.”
“I have learned it in neuroanatomy but only in an abstract manner – now it becomes more meaningful for my work. Thanks!”
“I’ve always known the importance of multi sensory "sense", but this took my understanding a step further for sure”
“It feels like this course was a missing puzzle piece in my application. This made it much more straightforward to progress and cue clients”
“1. Greater confidence with technique selection 2. Deeper understanding & appreciation re: critiquing and cueing for a clients understanding of both positional and integrative sense”
“This course material will likely allow me help clients move to a higher level of motor learning much more efficiently and with less cognitive load (corollaries > references) especially in a fitness setting, but obviously also with rehab clients.”
“This is one of the MOST relevant courses offered by PRI to my area of practice in my opinion, moving away from more "attention intensive" movement practices towards integrated sense of corollaries will allow all of my clients, from pro athlete to rehab, to experience and sense the task at hand rather than trying to juggle a more cueing intensive task.”
“Thank you again for supporting the growth of PRI nation. We love you and this course was fantastic. When entering a black hole, one needs a guide named Ron Hruska. I can feel the effort, the labor of love, the hard work that has been put into this course (and all other courses). Thank you PRI team for continuing to lead the way. You inspire me to be better. Much love from Alpine PT in Seattle.”
I could not give this course, the way it was presented, without the direct input, production, and guidance that Jen provide both me and the audience. So grateful for her many roles she plays in this Institute, but now, because we know each other so well and the overall intent so well, the delivery and message is seamless, sincere and solid. This truly was the Institute’s first multisensory movement workshop that reflected the strength of the corollary movement sense needed for natural cognitive processing built around vestibular-ocular reflexive correlations. We also could not have made this workshop the ‘virtual reality’ workshop it was without the live presence of Amy Morris, PT, Phil DeNigris, CSCS, Rua Gilna, CPT, SFG1, PN1, and Dave Drummer, DPT, PRC. Their patience with my Socratic style of teaching and their willingness to objectively communicate what they felt, sensed, experienced and struggled with made multi-dimensional processing understandable and appreciable.
Thank you again for coming to Lincoln and participate in the manner in which each and every one of you did.
I really do not believe there is any non-PRI course that introduces and integrates the right brain with the left brain for forward movement, forward based anticipation, forward hemispheric automaticity, and forward movement dependency on patterned lateralized sense of flow, developed around the visual system, hemi-chest cavities, upper and lower extremities, like this one. I take in consideration the primary course references, as the Forward Locomotor Clinical Corollaries are considered, in the selection of one of ten eccentric left hamstring or right quadricep bi-hemispheric PRI techniques that are considered for forward locomotor movement (FLM) efficiency.
Simply put, I hope that those who attended this tertiary course will be able to preserve forward propulsion through panoptic imagery and cortical documentation, chest decompression and cortical documentation, upper extremity lift and cortical documentation, and lower extremity push and cortical documentation, with those who are having difficulty recognizing exchange from these bi-hemispheric senses. My exasperation of “Please write this down, even if it’s only in your head”, is my way of saying “please sense these cortical documentary journaling” that are required for left hemispheric functional logic and right hemispheric gestalt, structured around these four FLM components.
It was a wonderful two days of exchange between 50 plus attendees. And I enjoyed every minute talking about the facts behind limb movement and pendular displacement that’s necessary for us to ‘walk”.
As I write this today, my seventh grandchild and my first granddaughter, Vivien walked for her first time, ten complete FLM cycles, without support. The video makes her grandfather smile because her 13-month-old brain and body, represents the human lateralized hemispheric components of forward movement that gives her the intra personal and inter personal gifts of life she will use to perfect her FLM personality and patterned pendular print. She felt flow, freedom, fun and fifial love.
In April, we were honored to have Neal Hallinan, CSCS, LMT, PRT present at our Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium, and one of his presentations was titled “Inhibiting Inhibitions: Rediscovering Your Innate Alternating Rhythms Through Dance“. We had a great time learning how to find ‘the beat’, and overcome inhibitions that might hold us back from getting in touch with the natural rhythms of the body through dance. Much of what you do with your patients or clients’ PRI program can also be integrated through dance, and there is no one close to this Institute that has experienced this more than Neal! His extensive background with Latin dance, combined with his personal and professional experience with PRI has enhanced his knowledge and understanding of both worlds, and how to integrate dance and PRI together. His presentation, and brief dance instruction was so much fun and enlightening, and enjoyed by those in attendance at the symposium, that we have invited Neal to partner with us and present a free online 3 week dance instructional series for PRINation this summer.
All are invited, including PRI providers (regardless of whether you attended the symposium in April), patients, clients, family members, etc. If you know someone who you think would enjoy this (or someone who NEEDS to get outside of their comfort zone and experience this), please invite them. Remember, there is nothing better for your patients, clients or athletes than to experience something new, something they are not familiar with, and something they are not comfortable with. The brain needs this type of activity. No dance experience is necessary, as Neal is excellent at working with beginners. So, whether you love to dance, or not so much, we invite you to join us for this wonderful opportunity to get in touch with the natural alternating rhythms of your body through dance!
Week 1: Beat and Feet (Tuesday, June 15th)
In the first session, we will begin by listening to music and hearing why some songs are good for rhythmic alternation while others are not. The majority of the class will focus on learning fundamental patterns of dance footwork that can be utilized to enhance PRI program outcomes.
Week 2: Arms (Tuesday, June 22nd)
Learning feet and beat are the easiest part of dancing. Upper body movement, particularly arm and hand movements, are the hardest. This hour will be devoted to adding arm styling to the footwork you learned in the first class. You’ll definitely want to know the footwork from Week 1 before taking this class.
Week 3: Styling (Tuesday, June 29th)
People may feel “stiff” and “awkward” while dancing because they never learned how to move their body in a fluid manner. While dancing and forward locomotion aren’t exactly the same thing, forward locomotion mechanics are directly applicable to body styling that makes dancing look smooth and effortless. Latin Motion, a unique movement of the hips and ribcage found in Salsa and usable in many other forms of dance, will be demonstrated and taught, as will the mechanics of turning and spinning.
