News

If comparing the ongoing CD project to the Olympics, it would be the Marathon, the longest race of the games. Bobbie and Jen have been feverishly working on the new CDs, set to be released soon. As they turn the corner and head into the home stretch, final edits are being made and finishing touches are being added.

Make sure to keep checking out our blog to find out when the CDs will be ready for purchase!

Would you like to know what Ron was thinking during his Saturday morning coffee? Check out his blog below, as he shares some thoughts!

The last patient of my week, on last Friday, was a 19 year old young man that was referred to me for anterior shin pain and chronic shin “splints”.  He had a history of back pain and is a runner and was an avid hockey player.  He reports when he doesn’t do anything, his anterior shin pain does not bother him.  He has been to every specialist possible for this type of problem, except by someone who has taken a PRI course or is trained or certified in PRI.

The first thing I read in my Saturday local paper, over a cup of coffee, was an article written by a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. “Give shin splints time to heal” was the title of the article.  Needless to say, after reading the article, I had a hard time finishing my coffee, and I could feel my body begin to “splint”.  The physician reported that shin splints develop because of overuse of the posterior tibialis muscle in the lower leg near the shin.  He did mention that shin splints can be caused by tibial stress fractures.  His advice; rest, ice, compress, elevate and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.  As the pain gradually goes away, start with a walking program.  Accordingly, if you return to your training too early or too intense your shin splint may come back.  He goes on to talk about the need for warm ups, to use the 10 percent rule or not to increase time or intensity of your workouts more than 10 percent per week, and to strengthen the muscles around you “lower” legs and ankles.  In his opinion, “Many great runners have experienced shin splints, rested the muscle and gone on to glory.”  This syndicate writer did not mention what a shoe orthotic, a good supportive shoe, a biomechanical oriented program for the upper leg including the pelvis and hips, or a myokinematic program for transverse plane stability at the femur or calcaneus might do for this “splint” pain.

The word “splint” according to Webster, means ‘a rigid device used to prevent motion of a joint or the ends of a fractured bone’.  When one is splinting they are in a feed forward process.  Pain does not allow one to relax and therefore makes one ‘splint’.  The pain, may subside if they do nothing.  However, that does not address the neurologic feed forward system issues because the dysfunctional torsion on the bone has not been addressed. 

My Friday afternoon patient did well with a PRI approach and actually could alter his shin splint pain after his left AIC, right BC and right TMCC patterns were considered.  The torsion on his tibial bone appeared to be coming from a right forward shoulder and the lack of a left posterior mediastinum, an extended postural pattern that was reinforced by a former head injury, and a deep lordotic back (40 to 50 degrees of straight leg raise).  He felt his shin “splints” come and go in the clinic when he learned how to move over his left hip properly, flex his thorax and lumbar spine correctly with ambulation and visually see and feel the ground in front of him, appropriately. 

My Monday morning cup of coffee was more enjoyable, only because this message allowed me to splint a little less.  Thank you.

Attending Myokinematic Restoration in Monterey, CA August 25-26, 2012? The course location has changed to the address below to accommodate more attendees. New hotel recommendations are below, as well. Please contact Paige with any questions!

Ryan Ranch Physical Therapy
21 Upper Ragsdale Drive, #125, Monterey, CA 93940
Phone #831-372-2963

Embassy Suites Monterey Bay
1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd, Seaside, CA 93955
#831-393-1115
*3.5 miles from course site

Comfort Inn Monterey Peninsula Airport
1200 Olmsted Road, Monterey, CA 93940
#831-372-2945
*2 miles from course site, near airport

Best Western Plus on the Beach
2600 Sand Dunes Drive, Monterey, CA 93940
#831-394-3321
*4 miles from course site

The University of Michigan Health System Continuing Education Program will be sponsoring Myokinematic Restoration on September 8-9th, 2012 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. To register for this course, CLICK HERE!

Last month, Ron Hruska, MPA, PT was one of eight medical professionals to present at the 3rd Annual DePaul Sports Medicine Symposium in Chicago, Illinois. To view Ron’s presentation on Postural Restoration: Concepts and Treatment in the Athletic Training Room, CLICK HERE!

We are excited to announce the course topic for the 5th Annual Interdisciplinary Integration Symposium; Athletic Performance! This two day symposium will feature 5-6 guest speakers and will be held on April 11-12th, 2013 in Lincoln, NE. We will be announcing the speaker list and course description soon!

Check out an awesome testimonial from Josh Owen, ATC, who recently hosted Impingement & Instability in June in North Carolina!

“WOW! is all I have to say! We had so many PRC and PRT’s in attendance, two speakers, and had a blast along the way.  I think overall everyone was pleased and experienced several “ah-ha!” moments.  Just specifically who was in attendance and having the great mixture of teaching styles of Mike and James solidified all of the principles of the Impingement and Instability course.  I think out of this entire process of hosting and experiencing this specific weekend, this is what PRI is all about.  It’s about bringing together professionals who are willing to collaborate and push the boundaries of physical science and medicine in an open environment to learn about restoring the body into its proper position to successfully carry out its functions. Thanks for letting me be a part of it!”

If you are interested in hosting a PRI course in 2013, please contact or fill out a Host a Course form! Dates are limited!

Jason Masek, MSPT, ATC, CSCS, PRC found this excellent article; Breathing pattern disorders and physiotherapy: inspiration for our profession.

An interesting summary from this article reads:
“Currently in western medicine, a fundamental push is to encourage healthy life style skills. Education in one of the most fundamental tools, and yet breathing has not been emphasized enough as part of this healthy lifestyle package. For the clinician the observation of breathing can provide insight into many systems, including biomechanics, biochemistry/physiology, and psychology reflecting the consideration of a multisystem approach.”

To learn more about how Postural Restoration restores postural influences on rib torsion, asymmetrical oblique strength, inconsistent breathing patterns, habitual use of accessory respiratory musculature and a restricted diaphragm, consider attending the Postural Respiration course.

A recent attendee of the Pelvis Restoration course sent us these two excellent Pelvic Floor research articles: Effects of Lumbar Lordosis and Pelvic Inlet Orientation on the Outcome of the Transobturator Tape Sling Operation In Women and Lumbosacral Spine and Pelvic Inlet Changes Associated With Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Along with these two articles, was the following question:
“Why do many research articles (including these two) show that excessive lumbar lordosis seems to be protective against pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI)?
To read Lori Thomsen’s response to this email, see below!

The date for the Postural Respiration course being offered in Minneapolis, MN is now OCTOBER 6-7, 2012. Call or register online today. Contact Paige with any questions!

New course location:
Allina Commons
Room: Pettingill B
2925 Chicago Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN

Mark your calendars!