PRI Treatment Proves Wonders for the Competitive Athlete
This blog was written by Lori Strobl, PT, DPT, PRC
Do you ever wonder why you might have pain on one side and not another? Why your body’s muscles aren’t the same size from one side to another? Why muscles on one side of your body might be tight and the other side loose and weak?
Well, the answer is the science of asymmetry, known as PRI™ or The Postural Restoration Institute. This treatment approach provides you with a Physical Therapist that is able to recognize how the science of asymmetry and the science of respiration affect your movement and posture.
The science of asymmetry
The PRI™ approach that some Physical Therapists are trained in is based on asymmetry of the joints of the body, as well asymmetrical patterns of muscle activity. These often develop due to our postural habits, our repetitive movements, and our side dominance (right or left). Each person is dominant on one side of their body or the other. This dominance is often exaggerated by the jobs we do or the sports we play. This theory can often explain how a person develops the onset of pain only on one side and not the other side.
With Postural Restoration™, we recognize these fundamental asymmetries in the body, and attempt to get our clients into a state of “neutrality”. Neutrality is a state of position in which our body is able to function reciprocally, or from our right side to our left side. A PRI™ trained PT will use tests and measures to determine how an individual’s body functions and how to get them into a state of neutrality. The state of neutrality helps us normalize muscle tone, muscle balance, and joint position and will often times reduce or eliminate an individual’s joint pain or dysfunction.
The science of respiration
The diaphragm is one of the most important muscles in our bodies and is the muscle that we use to breathe. Postural Restoration™ teaches a Physical Therapist how to evaluate the diaphragm muscle and its influence on posture and gait. A poorly positioned diaphragm can lead to many problems, not only in the thoracic (or trunk) region, but through the rest of the body as well.
The diaphragm muscle is a very large, powerful muscle that attaches to our ribcage and spine. The diaphragm is integral in holding our core and skeleton in place. Because of the diaphragm and the influence it has on the spine and in movements of our body, PRI™ utilizes specific breathing techniques and exercises to help balance the activity of the diaphragm with those of other muscles in our body.
Our body is anatomically asymmetrical, yet we ask symmetrical activities of it each day during our normal daily activities and when we exercise. If we don’t properly manage our biomechanical adaptation patterns and train our bodies to function in a reciprocal fashion, we may end up with joint pain, muscle pain, weakness, and dysfunction.
For additional information, please consult the website: http://posturalrestoration.com/.