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Postural Restoration (PRI)
Have you ever wondered why one shoulder is lower than the other or why one hip is higher than the other side? Or why you have too much arch in your back or why your knees are bowed? These and other asymmetries in the body are very common and treatable conditions with PRI techniques.
When such findings are present, they are often signs of underlying imbalance in the body. Along with the more obvious visual findings, there are more subtle findings such as limited range of motion/inflexibility, muscle weakness, muscle tension, and poor breathing.
Why do our bodies become so distorted? The causes are many but the body is not inherently symmetrical to begin with. We are born with asymmetry of the internal organs in all of us with and this predisposes us to many of the things described above. In addition, we never use our bodies equally on each side. Everyone is dominant on one side or the other and this is exaggerated by the jobs we do and the sports we play. Furthermore, injuries and accidents can cause compensations that result in asymmetries in our bodies.
Such conditions can ultimately cause pain and disability. When the body is out of alignment, some muscles become weak and, as a result, other muscles are overworked, tense and painful. Some joints are under more stress than they should be due to the uneven distribution of load within the body. As a result the joint may wear out prematurely. This explains why a joint on one side of the body wears out before the other.
For more information go to www.posturalrestoration.com
Postural Restoration is simply a method of assessing the body and identifying these abnormalities. A PR therapist will observe the patient stand, walk, and move in a variety of ways and then specifically test range of motion, strength, alignment, and breathing to compile a list of deficiencies. The therapist will then design a program to correct the identified problems. The program primarily consists of exercises to do at home with periodic visits to check progress and advance the program. The program may be enhanced with manual/hands-on stretching techniques. In addition, the therapist will give the patient advice on proper posture and positioning to enhance the exercise program.