News

Jason Miller, PT, PRC, was our host for Myokinematic Restoration last weekend in Missoula, MT.  Jason has been using PRI for quite a while, and this was a great opportunity for Jason’s co-workers to get exposed to the science of PRI.  Nearly half the audience were from Jason’s facility, which will really assist those new to PRI in their journey.  It’s always easier to have co-workers along side for the ride.  My thanks to Marla, Seth, Samantha, Kristina, Kailey, Erika, Jessica, and Sydney, as well as Jason’s wife, Jill,  for their willingness to learn and ask great questions.  

It was a great group of movement professionals, and a nice mix of those new to PRI, and those who had been exposed to PRI previously.  We started the weekend talking about positional influences on femur position and performance, as well as why and how AF position directs FA performance. We proceeded into which muscles are available and unavailable while in the L AIC pattern. This introductory 5.5 hours of didactic information is the foundation upon which the rest of our weekend was built. And it will provide a solid foundation for those new to PRI to build from as well.  

Once the groundwork had been laid, then we can start getting into the real value of PRI: getting off the right leg and onto the left leg correctly without compensation. The role the Hruska ADD and ABD tests play in that endeavor cannot be overstated. We were fortunate to have a lot of time to dedicate to these valuable tests. Additionally, we were able to experience, find, and feel inhibitory and faciliatory techniques, which allowed us to bring together both days of learning into a great time of lab.

We had a great crew of attendees. In addition to Missoula Bone & Joint group, I greatly appreciated Tim Cordial’s questions, Amy Downing’s help in lab, and Mandi Nystrom’s willingness to be our volunteer during demonstration.

Again, my thanks to Jason and his crew for a great weekend. Looking forward to the next trip to Missoula!

"Wow" was the word of the weekend at Cantrell Center for Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine and Wellness. This was one of the most enthusiastic groups this faculty member has observed with half of the attendees being new to PRI. In addition, The Cantrell Center had half of the total number of students in attendance which made this a real team effort for their facility and created a stronger culture of PRI for their facility. What I loved about this group was the balance of great questions and re-states from every one of the new students as well as the "veterans". There were two PRC’s, including lab assistant Ken Smith, who stated what we all experience attending a PRI course-no matter how many courses we have had is that there is always more to absorb and learn!

Cantrell Center Exercise Physiologist "Gentle" Giant Jalen Lawrence asked some great questions on how to apply PRI to power lifting and being able to learn how to better "axial load" when lifting. This was one of the most important questions for his athletes. In addition, we discussed that PRI loves extension for performance. We just don’t want to live there all the time and that flexing and internally rotating ribs is needed to down-regulate a system and help restore autonomic balance. HRV or heart rate variability was discussed in the context of Postural Respiration concepts. Autonomic function with parasympathetic inhibition upon inhalation vs. parasympathetic facilitation upon exhalation was discussed as a needed balance for HRV. Since breathing is such a common dysfunction, considering most of our patients present in a hyper-inflated, neurologically extended state, understanding diaphragm function and airflow management is a critical issue. This is not only an issue with people that come into our clinics with pain and dysfunction. It is a performance/recovery issue as well. Shout out to Mehmet, Marion and Michael from Florida who asked great questions and brought great energy. Thank you to all in attendance for making my weekend flow so well with all of you especially the "Cantrell Gang" who can collaborate and apply PRI in a supportive setting. Ken Smith, PTA, PRC was golden as our lab assistant and his energy helped move all of us along. Finally, thank you Tassie Cantrell for such a beautiful facility, great food and wonderful staff that attended and helped all weekend with set-up and clean-up duties.

There is so much to consider when one focuses on the interplay between our autonomic nervous system, our somatic nervous system and our central nervous system. And, there is so much to get excited about when the interplay of these systems can be modified, re-integrated, re-oriented and re-calibrated through oscillation of novel conscious and un-conscious sensory afferentation. Our behavior, i.e. psychology of the conscious, revolves and resolves around fluctuation of brain lateralization, hemispheric specialization, dominance (subjective experience) as it relates to our brain’s individual unique asymmetrical and emotional processing. (page 31 of Cranial Resolution). According to the authors of ‘The Intersubjective Perspective’ (thank you Michael Zhao), focus on inter-related subjective experience unveils forms and patterns that conscious experience repetitively and unconsciously assumes over time (page 101). Therefore, our subjective experience of resolving conscious experience and patterns of behavior and biology through novel integration of these three nervous systems could generate “access to the underlying structures and organizing principles and patterns that unconsciously govern psychological life”. I absolutely love discussing behavior as it relates to evidence based autonomic research. The attendees at this course in NYC gravitated towards behavior as it relates to the limitation of subjective frames of interrelated and integrated nervous systems and their respective developed references. Thank you Borbala Suranyi for being my avatar! Thank all of you in attendance who asked poignant and clinical questions. The award to the one that asked the most insightful and driving questions that pushed us into wonderful engaging response from the entire group, goes to Jeff Eckhouse. Finally, thank you Alicia Ferriere and Finish Line for hosting another PRI course in NYC. I definitely feel at home when I am there.  

As we prepare for the first ever PRI Integration for Pediatrics course this October in Chapel Hill, NC it is hard not to be excited! Anyone who works with children on a daily basis knows how rewarding it can be. However, when it comes to getting them to exhale into a balloon, or squeeze a ball between their knees it can become challenging very quickly. Lisa Mangino, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, PRC has spent countless hours considering the many ways PRI can be incorporated into a Pediatric setting, and through the creation of this particular Affiliate course we can all learn her intervention stragies which she applies to a younger population of patients.

Check out the video below for a sneak peak of some of the ways Lisa incorporates PRI into her practice!

And for more information about this course as well as the dates and locations it is being held, check out the PRI Integration for Pediatrics course page!

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We are looking for a passionate highly motivated trainer and as well as a physical therapist looking to join an amazing team here at Premier Fitness Systems.  We have a state of the art 5,000 sqft studio located in North Scottsdale, AZ.  We have been in the game for 10 years and are always looking for new team members looking to grow their knowledge and become part of something great.  PFS has become one of the top golf fitness gym’s in the world as well as expanded into working with athletes from the MLB, UFC, NFL and a number of other sports.  Currently we are looking for another full time trainer/coach as well as a physical therapist looking to work with athletes of all ages, ready to take their knowledge to the next level, and someone who is going to bring something new to the table for our staff.  PRI has become an important part of our methodology and are looking for new team members that embrace it’s benefits for returning athletes and regular Joes to sport. Some of the certifications that we like to see: DNS, CSCS, FRC, PRI, TPI, Animal Flow, Ido Portal, FMS, and many others.  Please email Greg at trainpfs@gmail.com with your resume and we will get back to you if you’re a good candidate and take things from there. We are looking to hire in the next month FYI!!!

Check us out at www.premierfitnesssystems.com

Also check out our instagram pages@pfsgolf, @brandon_pfs, @ando_pfs, @parkercondit_pfs, @pfsfitness, @reedhrynewich_pfs, @utlimate_lady_badass

Those of you who have been around for a while now hopefully recognize the family nature surrounding our Institute. Our faculty are like family to us, our credentialed providers are a family and quite honestly all of you, #PRINation, are one big family.

Families support one another, in any way possible. It’s for that reason that we want to share with you the fight that one of our closest family member’s is currently battling. On June 3rd, faculty member Jesse Ham’s daughter, Jenna, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL). She has spent much of the past two months at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls (5 hours from home). Jenna is a fighter and her faith is strong, as is the case for her entire family.

Please keep Jesse, Jenna and the entire Ham family in your thoughts and prayers. If you are interested in following Jenna’s story and her courageous fight with ALL, a Caringbridge page has been set up. In addition, a GoFundMe account has also been organized to help their family get through this battle which has presented several hurdles financially, if you feel the desire to help further.

Thank you #PRINation for being a part of our Institute’s family!

This image popped up on my "Facebook Memories" this morning, and it was perfect timing because I was planning to do a post this week with some tips for preparing your application for PRC or PRT credentialing. Eight years ago, I was practicing full time as a PT at the Hruska Clinic. I began taking courses when I was still in PT school, had an awesome clinical instructor Lori Thomsen for one of my final clinical rotations, and landed my dream job after graduation at the Hruska Clinic. I was surrounded by the best mentors ever, yet I must admit that I was a little scared at the thought of completing the PRC application and testing. However, having been on both sides (a scared and nervous applicant 8 years ago, and now the Director of Education and Credentialing running the show), I want to take a moment to share some tips and more information to ease your anxiety about the process.

Top 3 tips for preparing your PRC or PRT application:

1. Set aside larger chunks of time to work on your application.
When I first started my application, I was working on it for a couple hours at a time in the evening, or when I had a patient cancellation during the day. But, I found that by the time I would get my stuff out (all of my course binders, my case study patient charts, stacks of research articles, etc), and I mentally prepared myself to get started, I didn’t have much time to get actual work done on my application. Therefore, I found my groove when I set aside a full Saturday (which is what this picture is representing from 8 years ago). I set up a table to work, had all of my course manuals accessible and I got major work done! I did this a couple more days over the next couple months and finished the application. It isn’t too late to start on your application for this year, if you are able to dedicate a couple weekends to the process.

2. The review committee isn’t looking for perfection.

The application review is a peer-reviewed process (PRCs and PRTs). Each application is reviewed by two members of the review committee for which you are applying (either PRC or PRT), and their recommendations are provided for review by Ron and myself. Based on their feedback, we then determine if the applicant is prepared for testing, and the applicant then receives the reviewer’s feedback. None of us are perfect in what we do, and thus the review committee is not looking for perfection. Rather, they want to see your ‘thought process’ and ‘decision-making’ with the PRI concepts from the four pre-requisite courses displayed on paper throughout your application. Therefore, I would recommend that even if you look back at a case study or client program that you put together and think "wow, I would have totally not selected that technique now that I know more…." (that is fine), you can still use that case study, and at the end of your case study discussion, reflect on what you would do different now (and why….knowing what you know now, that you didn’t know then).

3. The application in itself is an educational experience.

I hear this often when people are here for PRC and PRT testing, and I felt the same way myself. I learned SO much when I was preparing my application. It forced me to review content from the courses and find answers to questions that I still had myself. I vividly remember that I didn’t fully understand the Superior T4 Syndrome until this day 8 years ago, when I went back and studied my manual, watched the home study course again and reviewed the manual techniques. I had an ‘ah-ha’ moment in preparing my application that day. The application made me reflect on my decision making process, consider what I might do different now, identify favorite techniques (which is difficult when there are so many), and it allowed me to realize how much I did know (even though there was still a lot I didn’t know). This last one is important. Preparing your application is not an easy task, and it takes a lot of time, but it should give you a little boost of confidence (you are studying for the exam while you prepare your application), and that is the hidden gem. Last but not least, the feedback from the reviewer’s is so incredibly helpful!

If you are considering applying for PRC or PRT, and you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! The PRC application deadline (for testing in December) is September 15th and the PRT application deadline (for testing in January) is October 15th. 

I also plan to share more information and answer questions throughout the week on social media, so if you are on Instagram or Facebook, follow PRI and ask away!

Lastly, in case anyone was wondering how that triathalon went the next day (8 years ago), it was an experience that I have chosen not to do again, but I must admit I was not fully prepared for what I signed up for (it was a last minute decision and challenge with some friends)…but we survived!

Hello PRI nation! This past weekend’s trip to Georgia has reminded me of some of the many ways this Institute called PRI is exceptional. As has always been the case, every organization that is foundational and exceptional is so largely because of its people.

Mentor, friend, PRI faculty team member, and mayor of Mayberry, Mike “Hops” Cantrell, helped me feel at home at Fox Valley Farm in Georgia in more ways than I have room here to describe. The attentive, kind and graceful people who attended the course at Mercer University enjoyed learning and treated this instructor well, with excellent dialogue and focus during didactics and labs. The gentleman who helped set up the course so that we could teach, Mr. Amos Mansfield, enjoyed doing his part to spread the science of PRI to others. This instructor thoroughly enjoyed teaching the science of Pelvis Restoration in the great state of Georgia, as did another friend, mentor and exceptionally bold, popular PRI faculty team member The Jen Poulin (TJP), who came in to teach day two when I was unexpectedly called away. Jen was nothing short of an ace closer last weekend! Thank you Jason Robey for your sense of humor and for that one second pause.

Thank you Jeremy Fradin, Michael Finley, Joni Robertson and several more for your effort and assistance with demonstrations and labs. Thank you to the whole class for your kindness and attentiveness as we navigated Pelvis Restoration theory, terminology, objective tests, facilitation and inhibition strategies to ultimately oppose polyarticular patterns that present initially. There were many reasons for my being there–each of you!

Jen and I recently returned to the NATA National Convention in Las Vegas for their 70th Annual Meeting! This year we were joined by Hruska Clinic Physical Therapist and PRC, Jason Masek as he presented and contributed to a break out session on the first day of this Conference. We are always humbled by the unique interest voiced by the Athletic Training community and this year in particular, Universities throughout the country. As more and more Student Athletic Trainers, Graduate Assistants, Administrators and Professional Athletic Trainers introduce Postural Restoration concepts to their athletes, the desire to learn more continues to grow within these populations. Many attendees looked forward to taking further course work through the Institute or hosting courses themselves within their programs. Our PRI Japan Faculty was continuously mentioned by the Japanese Athletic Trainers in attendance and the impact that Kenny, Sy, and Takashi had on their peers not only during their time here in the States throughout their foundational years, but also through their Faculty roles as they currently grow PRI Japan, was voiced with high praise.

Jason intorduced our science through the "Prevention of Movement Patterned Conditions Beyond Competitive Years: Asymmetrical Movement Pattern Considerations". He and Jen fielded many questions by those who attended this talk, and led these individuals through a break out session of performing several PRI objective tests and Non-Manual Technique interventions addressing these findings. A special thank you to Mark Cairns, ATC, PRT and Jessica Tidswell, PT, ATC, PRT for their contribution in helping to guide and assist these techniques during this session. This introduction led even more traffic to our booth and many of those who received these concepts for the first time were eager to attend their first course. 

For those of you who were unable to attend but are interested in viewing the concepts Jason presented, his full Handout can be VIEWED HERE. We look forward to the continued growth of #PRINATION within the Athletic Training community and would love to answer any questions you may have!

The seeds of PRI science have been planted in the birthplace of philosophy. We have all seen the beneficiaries of Ron Hruska’s Socratic style of teaching. Sharing PRI wisdom in Athens was a natural fit.  
 
Praxis Physical Therapy in Athens graciously hosted this Intro to PRI seminar. Mimi Marsellou PT/ Μιμή Μαρσέλλου PT, M.Sc. and Foteni Largari PT / Φωτεινή Λάγαρη PT have owned and run a women’s health and general PT practice for over 20 years.   
 
How did this come about? A unique professional connection to Greece:
Having had the great fortune to have lived in Greece for 6 years, working in Athens as a PT from 2000 to 2004, including being a PT for the Greek Olympic Committee/Athens summer Olympic and Paralympic games in 2004. When I returned to the US, and discovered PRI in 2008, obtained a PRC certification in 2011 with the culmination of opening my own PRI Center in 2014. Like Odysseus traveling so far only to return home again; this summer presented the opportunity of introducing PRI to rehab professionals in Athens. It is no surprise that they are eager for more.
 
Now that they have been exposed to PRI concepts, there are plans for the home study courses in the near future.   
Who knows, perhaps hosting a course as well. “OPA” PRI!

This past weekend, the Affiliate program got presented in the southern hemisphere as the PRI  integration for Fitness and Movement was hosted in Sydney, Australia!!  I traveled over 10,220 miles (or over 16,447 km) and the very long plane ride across the south pacific was well worth it! Sydney was such a fun city, and it was a pleasure to spend some time with the PRI Australia group.

 I am beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to share the PRI science with this area of the world.  It is exciting for me to watch attendees connect to a deeper dimension of PRI because I believe it’s in those deeper dimensions of PRI that the magic happens and gaps are bridged.  Attendees from Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Georgia and various parts of Australia were all represented. Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Pilates, Yoga, and Exercise Specialists were all in attendance, with the class being about half and half. Half being exposed to PRI before and the other half were brand new to the science. Needless to say it was a diverse group — yet all united to learn more about the diaphragm and its influence on posture.

Regardless of credentials and training, this course is enlightening to help us all remember how to program Respiration and Alternating Reciprocal Activity to enhance Tri-Planar performance patterns (i.e “Functional Fitness”)

 We hit the ZOA hard and discussed it’s role in managing hyperactivity and unnecessary muscle tension. The exercises I introduced focused on shaping the ZOA three dimensionally with respiratory abdominals, along with promoting  expansion, movement and flexibility of the ribcage.  I then emphasized the 5 steps of programming for shaping adaptation and better integration for symmetrical compound lifts.

  The 5 steps in this course are presented to help create a framework for programming and organizing how exercises are presented to clients and patients. The 5 steps also help in organizing core stability and symmetry from the diaphragm level outward.

I loved seeing the passion and ah-ha moments as attendees connected with the material and got new resources and insights to help progress their clients and patients. I think we will see PRI quickly continuing to grow in this area of the world. Thank you to Mark Obrien and Jason Thomson for hosting. Special thanks to Mark for the hospitality and opening up his brand new facility for us to use. Fit Plus Well is such great hidden gem just south of Sydney. And Jason, thank you for sharing your passion, your insights (nuts, I will always remember your nuts cue) and helping with much of the logistics of the weekend! 

My visit to Australia was fun and I hope to get to come back one day! I could definitely live in Sydney – beaches, city and mountains were all right there. Beautiful coastline. Thank you to all who helped organize the event! Cheers!!

Boston is a city known for its innovation – ranked fifth in the world – likely due in part to the 54 colleges located within the metro area. As so it was that 50 course attendees descended upon the campus of Northeastern University to learn how to apply the innovative concepts of patterned thoraco-abdominal mechanics into their existing treatment paradigms.

Many attendees had Myokinematic Restoration and/or Pelvis Restoration in their wheelhouse, so they were excited to expand upon their understanding of how it is that the diaphragm and rib cage, via directing air flow patterns, enables us to shift our COM to from the left to the right, and back again, for efficient gait.

Discussion of the differences in the neuromuscular behaviors of the right and left hemi-diaphragms, and their profound influence on the nervous system, movement quality, and behavior, are fundamental in PRI courses. This includes the differences in the right and left diaphragm’s Zone of Apposition and its role in rib cage expansion to allow our axial skeleton shift and rotate. Arm swing, when done properly, supports this process, promoting good rib movement and hemi-diaphragm position to reduce fatigue and promote healthy air flow patterns. These concepts were brought to life by the many photos of real patients. Their backgrounds gave insight into why it is they sit, stand, and breathe the way they do.

Of course, we had our own class of individuals who provided insight. Anita Furbush, PT, PRC, and Tyler Tanaka, DPT, PRC, were instrumental in providing clinical pearls and guiding participants during lab. Johnathan Blake, CPT, Amanda Donahue, ATC, Rachel Ferrucci, DPT, Brianna Papotto, ATC, Mansi Shah, DPT, and Sean Sheridan, DPT, kept the questions coming, prompting me to clarify concepts, which benefited the whole class. Thank you to our live “case studies”: Katie Brooks, MA, CPT; Lindsey Rockett, ERYT; and Joshua Robinson, CPT, who allowed us to identify and address the different patterns of polyarticular muscle chain over-activity that a patient/client may present with. Finally, a huge thank you goes out to the folks at Northeastern for hosting: Katie Brooks, Jai Chopra, ATC, Mark Mastone, ATC, CSCS, and Dan Sanzo, ATC, CSCS. Great facility and wonderful group of attendees!