Positional Release Technique Book Free Download: The Ultimate Guide to Healing and Wellness

This is done slowly and passively, i.e. the therapist moves the clients body. There are different ways of employing this technique, either using a painful point as a monitor, or the practitioner using their own felt sense of ease in the tissues by holding the area. It is especially useful in acute situations where a muscle has been pulled, or is in spasm, but can also be useful in more long term issues and as part of a strategy for treating trigger points activity. As a method it integrates well with muscle energy technique MET and myofascial release.

This form of positional release uses pressure applied on a tender spot or trigger point as a monitor and the client is asked to report on the degree of tenderness, which hopefully reduces as the position of ease is approached. It is named as it is because the idea is that you do the opposite of strain the muscle in order to return it to a relaxed state. This should also be pain free and the tenderness felt at the monitor spot should reduce by 70% or more. Often it goes completely during the procedure, and although the spot may still be tender afterwards the function, the persons movement should be improved.

Positional Release Technique Book Free Download

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Positional release therapy, also known by its parent term strain counterstrain, is a therapeutic technique that uses a position of comfort of the body, its appendages, and its tissues to resolve somatic dysfunction. Somatic dysfunction is defined as a disturbance in the sensory or proprioceptive system that results in spinal segmental tissue facilitation and inhibition (Korr 1975). Jones (1973) proposed that as a result of somatic dysfunction, tissues often become kinked or knotted resulting in pain, spasm, and a loss of range of motion. Simply, PRT unkinks tissues much as one would a knotted necklace, by gently twisting and pushing the tissues together to take tension off the knot. When one link in the chain is unkinked, others nearby untangle, producing profound pain relief (Speicher and Draper 2006a).

Essentially, PRT is the opposite of stretching. For example, if a patient has a tight, tender area on the calf, the clinician would traditionally dorsiflex the foot to stretch the calf to reduce the tightness and pain. Unfortunately, this might lead to muscle guarding and increased pain. Using the same example, a clinician who employs PRT would place the tender point in the position of greatest comfort (plantar flexion), shortening the muscle or tissue in order to relax them. A gentle and passive technique, PRT has been advocated for the treatment of acute, subacute, and chronic somatic dysfunction in people of all ages (Speicher and Draper 2006b). Dr. Lawrence Jones, an osteopathic physician, is credited with the discovery of the therapy in the early 1950s; he initially called it positional release technique and later coined the term strain counterstrain (Jones 1964).

Clinical Guide to Positional Release Therapy With Web Resource provides professionals in the sports medicine and therapy fields with an easy-to-read reference on the clinical application of positional release therapy (PRT). The book is an invaluable resource for those who desire to learn, practice, and perfect the art of PRT to gently treat patients of all ages who have acute and chronic somatic dysfunction, including tightness and pain.

The highly visual book is organized in a manner that enables the reader to acquire a foundation of the applications, procedures, and theory of PRT. Part I explores the research surrounding PRT, providing articles that support the use of PRT through evidence-based practice. Readers will consider special populations, such as elderly patients, competitive athletes, and patients with disabilities. Part II explores PRT techniques by anatomical area. Each region (lower quarter, pelvis, spine, upper quarter, and cranium) contains an overview of common injury conditions and their myofascial triggers, differential diagnoses, and instructions on palpating and treating specific anatomical structures. Each chapter in part II also contains self-treatment techniques where appropriate.

Clinical Guide to Positional Release Therapy includes more than 400 full-color photos and illustrations. The unique layout of the book displays the anatomy, palpation, and treatment techniques in one or two pages, making the techniques visually easy for practitioners and students to follow and put into practice. In addition, scanning charts listing structures and mapping of the anatomical areas specific to the chapter content appear at the end of each chapter.

The text is supplemented by a web resource featuring 61 videos demonstrating various PRT techniques described in the book. The most common conditions and the techniques used to treat them are detailed, and Dr. Speicher provides advice about adapting the techniques to other conditions and muscle groups. The supplemental videos can be accessed online.

Positional release techniques are gentle manual treatments to relieve pain and discomfort, improving the overall health and functioning of the body by correcting imbalances of the musculoskeletal system. The advanced course covers all methods of spontaneous release by positioning. Theories and history of many different approaches are discussed and techniques are described in detail through illustrations and photographs. The associated online videos provide demonstrations of the techniques as well.

This course was great; however, I am such a kinesthetic learner that I look forward to taking an in class course. It was difficult for me to stay engaged because of the length of this course. I look forward to expanding my knowledge in positional release with some hands on practice and other future courses.

SMRT is a positional release modality. The principles of SMRT are similar to Strain Counterstrain and PRT. When we use SMRT, we move the tissue or body part into a position of ease or comfort. In other words, if tissue is shortened, we shorten it further. What we believe is happening when we do passively move tissue into its existing pattern is described in a theory called Proprioceptive Theory.

Roy et al (2009) examined heart rate variability (HRV) in the presence or the absence of pain in the lower back, while receiving one chiropractic treatment at L5 from either a manually assisted mechanical force (Activator) or a traditional diversified technique spinal manipulation. A total of 51 participants were randomly assigned to a control (n = 11), 2 treatment, or 2 sham groups (n = 10 per group). Participants underwent an 8-minute acclimatizing period. The HRV tachygram (RR interval) data were recorded directly into a Suunto watch. We analyzed the 5-minute pretreatment and posttreatment intervals. The spectral analysis of the tachygram was performed with Kubios software. All groups decreased in value except the control group that reacted in the opposite direction, when comparing the pretests and posttests for the high-frequency component. The very low frequency increased in all groups except the control group. The low frequency decreased in all groups except the sham pain-free group. The low frequency-high frequency ratio decreased in the treatment pain group by 0.46 and in the sham pain-free group by 0.26. The low frequency-high frequency ratio increase was 0.13 for the sham pain group, 0.04 for the control group, and 0.34 for the treatment pain-free group. The mean RR increased by 11.89 milliseconds in the sham pain-free group, 18.65 milliseconds in the treatment pain group, and 13.14 milliseconds in the control group. The mean RR decreased in the treatment pain-free group by 1.75 milliseconds and by 0.01 milliseconds in the sham pain group. The investigators concluded that adjusting the lumbar vertebrae affected the lumbar parasympathetic nervous system output for this group of participants.

The Blair technique is a specific system of analyzing and adjusting the upper cervical vertebrae. Attention is given to the atlas and axis (the first 2 cervical vertebrae) since they are the most freely moveable vertebrae in the spinal cord and the ones most commonly mis-aligned. The objective of the Blair technique is not to diagnose or treat diseases or conditions, but to analyze and correct vertebral subluxations such that the body can repair and maintain health from within. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the clinical value of this technique.

Biogeometric integration has been described as a conceptual understanding that enhances chiropractors' knowledge of the human body. Seminars on biogeometric integration provide an understanding of the innate geometry of the body and force dynamics surrounding the creation and release of subluxations. The philosophy, science, and art of chiropractic are examined from a post-Newtonian point of view, providing the opportunity to express and understand chiropractic in accord with contemporary science. Through understanding of the innate geometry of the body, chiropractors are thought to be able to more effectively and gently release the subluxation and assess the effectiveness of the adjustment. The geometric understanding of the body also serves to bridge the gap between the many techniques of chiropractic by providing a common language and understanding from which to converse. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the clinical value of this approach.

According to the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association, the NUCCA procedure frees the nervous system of interference by using a precise, non-invasive, gentle touch technique. The NUCCA procedure brings several generations of clinical research to correcting the serious problem of the atlas subluxation complex. By using precise and objective x-ray views of the head and neck, mathematical measurement and analysis are made of the misalignment. Once the misalignment is understood by the doctor, there is no need for further x-rays because correlating the relationship between posture and upper cervical misalignment allows posture to then be used thereafter to judge alignment. There is also often less need for repeated corrections because returning the bones of the neck to a normal position also normalizes function in the body. To begin, most doctors offer a consultation so that you can experience the office and make sure the people and process are a comfortable match to your needs. This gives the doctor a chance to hear a bit about your situation, make some measurements, and discuss the potential of NUCCA treatment. The supine leg check, which shows leg length inequality, is the basic standard to determine if you have an upper cervical misalignment. Many doctors use an Anatometer, a NUCCA endorsed measuring tool that evaluates standing posture. Some doctors may use other devices including the Gravity Stress Analyzer and hip calipers. Any other health problems, injuries, motor vehicle accidents, surgeries, along with other treatment programs, which include diagnostic tests and x-rays, are also evaluated and assessed. After this initial process, the doctor will begin the steps necessary in determining if your spinal column is significantly misaligned or out of balance. 2ff7e9595c