Peterson Earns Postural Restoration Certification

December 18, 2009

Christy Peterson, Physical Therapist at Valley County Health System, has received Postural Restoration Certification (PRC) through the Postural Restoration Institute.  In 2004, the Institute established a certification process for physical therapists as a way to recognize and identify those individuals with advanced training, extraordinary interest and devotion to the science of postural adaptations, asymmetrical patterns and the influence of polyarticular chains of muscles on the human body as defined by the Postural Restoration Institute.

Certification is available to physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and occupational therapists who have attended all PRI courses, demonstrated a thorough understanding of the science through completion of the PRC application, and successfully participate in both clinical and analytical testing.

Postural restoration allows effective treatment of any type of diagnosis, however, great improvements have been seen with many chronic pain conditions.  This program centers around restoring diaphragm and appropriate breathing function combined with repositioning and balancing the pelvis, hip, back and shoulder muscles to create a restored posture that moves and functions more normally. This approach may effectively treat many difficult entities including hip bursitis, sacroiliac and low back pain, leg and foot pain, headaches and cervical pain, as well as pain in the upper back and rib cage regions. Exercise as well as many manual techniques and breathing are utilized.

To date 45 Physical Therapists, 1 PT Assistant, and 2 Occupational Therapists worldwide have earned the designation of Postural Restoration Certified (PRC) under the direction of Ron Hruska.  Several therapists at Valley County Health System have training in Postural Restoration and will be seeking certification in the future.

Valley County Health System congratulates Christy on this outstanding achievement.