THE AMAZING ASYMMETRIES OF THE BODY
Human bodies are not symmetrical. We know some of us have one foot larger than the other; our liver is in the right low abdomen and balanced out by our heart in the upper left chest; and the right half of our diaphragm is larger and stronger than the left side.
The hemispheres of the brain, nerves, lungs, blood vessels, muscles, and vision systems are not equal from side to side. Each structure is part of a system and these systems each have unique demands, distinctive functions, and are in differing positions.
For example, our left brain controls the right side of the body and is the primary area for communication and speech. This causes us to use our right arm more than our left when we are talking and gesturing. That’s a dominance pattern that sometimes leads to problems in the right shoulder girdle.
The amazing design of the human body is meant to be asymmetrical—it functions best when these asymmetries are balanced during movement. For example, when we walk, our right arm swings forward to balance our left leg as it goes forward – that’s balanced reciprocal asymmetry at its best. When our systems become overused and dominated by one pattern, our bodies begin to compensate. Weakness, pain, and difficulty with movement/activity begins … and builds over time. Our bones and muscles become restricted and cannot move in their normal patterns. For example, the weaker left diaphragm usually doesn’t balance the stronger right side when breathing. Our ribcage can become twisted by the stronger pull of the right side causing twisting in your spine, difficulty breathing, or pain across the top of your shoulders. This may happen gradually over many years or could happen in just a few weeks.
Watch this 60 second video that explains PRI!
WHAT IS POSTURAL RESTORATION?
Postural Restoration (PRI) is a highly successful treatment approach for problems that may arise from this sort of imbalance. The study of postural restoration takes your entire body into consideration to determine what might be causing your problem. The therapists at Schuster Physical Therapy use postural restoration to determine what type of compensation patterns you have developed to cope with your symptoms. They take into consideration the asymmetrical patterns your habits may have caused in your body which are likely the underlying source of your pain, instability, weakness and dysfunction. By using PRI techniques, the therapists at Schuster Physical Therapy develop innovative treatment programs that succeed where traditional physical therapy, injections, surgery and exercise may have failed.
The main focus of a postural restoration treatment is to identify and correct typical patterns found in the human body. The balance of our muscles and joints from side to side, from front to back and from top to bottom influences the way we stand, sit, walk, breathe, and even sleep. Imbalances or asymmetry in our bodies may cause us to fall into patterns that negatively impact our muscles and alignment. These changes result in abnormal wear and tear on our bodies and cause the pain that finally gets our attention. By addressing the underlying abnormal postural patterns, restoring reciprocal motion, and balancing breathing patterns, we can more effectively treat your issues. At the same time, we strive to teach you how to prevent further injury and adopt better habits to keep pain at bay.
POSTURAL RESTORATION AT SCHUSTER PHYSICAL THERAPY
At our Jefferson, NC physical therapy practice, you know you’ll be treated by some of the most experienced physical therapists in the area. We have trained professionals in the field of postural restoration who would be happy to help you relieve your pain and regain your optimum function once again.
At your initial appointment, you will undergo a thorough evaluation with one of our highly-trained physical therapists. Your evaluation will assess your postural dysfunctions, asymmetrical adaptations, interferences on your polyarticular chain, and accompanying symptoms. After your evaluation, one of our physical therapists will create an individualized treatment plan based on your specific needs, to help you achieve the BEST version of you.
To get started on your path towards improved posture and decreased pain, contact Schuster Physical Therapy today.
