 PRRT is a treatment that stands for Primal Reflex Release Technique. I know this is a cliché, but PRRT is the ultimate nervous system hack. We treat musculoskeletal problems by using the nervous system. So how does it work? I tell clients all the time that my treatment approach often sounds like a 3-year-old. I keep asking why. If a client comes in with low back pain, I want to know why. If a muscle is tight, I want to know why. The body does an amazing job of protecting itself. It doesn’t always do such a great job of letting go of those protections once they are no longer needed. One way the body can protect itself is by “splinting” or “guarding”. Essentially, the nervous system tells the muscle to “tighten up” to limit movement to try to prevent further injury. Assuming that is the case, how effective will stretching be to get that muscle to “loosen up”? This is where we use PRRT. There is a principle in neurology called reciprocal inhibition. Basically, if your brain (nervous system) tells a muscle to contract (for example the biceps), then there is a spinal cord reflex (doesn’t go to the brain) that tells its opposite muscle (in this example the triceps) to relax. So activating the biceps relaxes the triceps. We use light tapping on the tendon to activate the muscle. This is one of the foundations to PRRT. If I know what muscle is tight, all I have to do is figure out what is the opposite muscle (called the antagonist) and activate that muscle. Life is a contact sport. We are having to deal with problems (injuries) every day that may cause our bodies to protect. Over time, these cumulative protections can become the problem. We can use PRRT to essentially work backward in time and undo these protections that are no longer needed.  These PT Pro Tips are brought to you by our Owner and Elm Grove Therapist, Mark Snyder PT, DPT.
With a strong passion for education, Mark has been a professor for a physical therapy assistant program and has taught continuing education to health care professionals in the US and in Europe. In his spare time, Mark likes to work out and coaches many little league sports.
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Welcome to the October 2022 issue of In Focus with PT Plus Physical Therapy  What's New at PT Plus We're Hiring If you love PT Plus - you could love your employer! PT Plus is hiring for multiple positions and locations. Inquire today about becoming a member of our work family. If you aren't looking for work, but know someone else who could be a great fit, please pass our information along!  Halloween At The Y! Look for our therapist Jordan Anderson at the Feith Family Ozaukee YMCA Halloween at the Y family fun celebration! The event will take place Friday, October 21st at 5:30pm. Visit their Facebook Event Page for more fun details!  15th Annual Washington Co Wellness and Benefits Fair Join us for a fun, interactive and informative event for Washington County and City of West Bend employees. Thursday, October 27 from 9:00am - 2:00pm at the Washington County Government Center. We are accepting new patients We are hearing that other practices are not able to see new patients quickly as we approach year end. We understand schedules can get tight with many patients needing immediate care, and know the importance of early treatment. At PT Plus, we pride ourselves in providing exceptional patient care, and low wait times. If you or someone you know needs therapy, reach out to PT Plus today and we will make sure you get the care you need, sometimes even same day! Leave us a Review Support a locally owned small business by referring your family and friends. We care about all of our patients and rely on the word-of-mouth marketing that you provide. If you have a testimonial about PT Plus to share, we would love to hear from you! Leave a Google Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Leave a Yelp Review: Bay View – Brookfield – Elm Grove – Greenfield – Thiensville Third Ward – Racine – Slinger – West Bend Featured Testimonial  Don't Keep Injury Secrets  Physical therapists are experts in dealing with injuries, but your PT can't help if they don't know about your injury!
You might be wondering who would keep an injury secret. The answer is - lots of people! The first thing that comes to your mind might be an athlete, like a football player, or maybe a baseball pitcher. But athletes aren't the only ones that keep injury secrets. Performers like dancers keep injury secrets, and so do workers in all types of jobs. Why would anyone want to keep their injury secret instead of getting it treated and letting it heal? Read on… StigmaAlthough there have been big improvements in the culture around sports, performing arts, and worker's comp, some people still have the old "no pain, no gain" attitude. To some people, reporting an injury is an act of weakness, or a way of letting the team down. There can also be external pressure from coaches, parents, teammates, supervisors, or fans to keep playing or working. Fear of LossWith the focus on head injuries in recent years, athletes that get hit in the head know if they report concussion symptoms, they're coming out of the game. Workers who get hurt on the job fear loss of pay, or loss of their job. Performers who get hurt might fear that their replacement will outshine them on the stage and take their place. Competitive AdvantageWhile the first two reasons can apply to athletes, performers, workers and most any other group that might be hiding an injury, this one is limited to athletes. If an opposing team knows a player is injured, and what the injury is, they might be able to take advantage of it. For example, if a football team has a running quarterback that has an ankle injury, it will change how the opposing defense plays. These reasons all make some sense, but they're also all shortsighted. Finishing a game, dancing tomorrow night, or working one more shift are never worth your long term health. Hiding a minor injury can turn it into a major one. It's never weak to report an injury and you're not letting your teammates, or coworkers down. If you're not up to your best, you owe it to the people counting on you to let them know. Letting a healthy player, performer, or worker take your place is the right thing to do. If you're injured, don't hide it! Let the right people know, then go to the right person for help - your physical therapist! |
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