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Basic Concepts of the Postural Restoration Institute™, by Ron Hruska
The human body is not symmetrical. The neurological, respiratory, circulatory, muscular and vision
systems are not the same on the left side of the body as they are on the right, and vice versa. They have
different responsibilities, function, position and demands on them. This system asymmetry is a good
thing and an amazing design. The human body is balanced through the integration of system
imbalances. The torso, for example, is balanced with a liver on the right and a heart on the left.
Extremity dominance is balanced through reciprocal function; i.e. left arm moves with right leg and vice
versa.
Postural Restoration Institute™ (PRI) trained therapists recognize these imbalances and typical patterns
associated with system disuse or weakness that develops because of dominant overuse. This dominant
overuse of one side of the body can develop from other system unilateral overuse. For example, if the
left smaller diaphragm is not held accountable for respiration as the right is, the body can become
twisted. The right diaphragm is always in a better position for respiration, because of the liver’s
structural support of the right larger diaphragm leaflet. Therefore, the left abdominals are always
important to use during reciprocal function, such as walking, to keep the torso balanced.
Keeping the right chest opened during breathing is also challenging since there is no heart muscle inside
the right side of the chest. Standing mainly on the right lower extremity to offset the weight of the left
upper torso, assists in moving the pelvis forward on the left and the shoulder complex down on the right.
This asymmetry compliments the special functions of the two sides of the brain. Although the two sides
(hemispheres) of the brain share responsibilities for some functions, each hemisphere has its own
“specialties”. Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body. The left brain has more
responsibilities for speech and language and thus the right upper extremity becomes a dominant
extremity in communication, growth and development. PRI trained therapists recognize when this
normal pattern is not balanced sufficiently with left extremity neurologic and muscular activity.
When these normal imbalances are not regulated by reciprocal function during walking, breathing or
turning, a strong pattern emerges creating structural weaknesses, instabilities, and musculo-skeletal pain
syndromes. Balancing muscle activity around the sacrum (pelvis), the sternum (thorax) and the
sphenoid (middle of the head) through a PRI approach best positions multiple systems of the human
body for appropriate integrated asymmetrical function. All PRI trained therapists incorporate reciprocal
function to reduce ‘leading’ with the left pelvis and right arm, and respiratory function to maximize
airflow in and out of the right lung.
Vision, occupational demands, in-uterine position, etc. can all influence asymmetrical tendencies and
patterns. Humpback whales bottom-feed on their right side, lemurs tend to be lefties when it comes to
grabbing their grub, toads use their right forepaw more than their left, chimpanzees hold a branch up
with the left hand and pick the fruit with their right hand, and humans usually balance their center of
gravity over their right leg for functional ease and postural security. PRI trained therapists recognize the
more common integrated patterns of human stance, extremity use, respiratory function, vestibular
imbalance, mandibular orientation and foot dynamics; and balance these patterns, as much as possible,
through specific exercise programs that integrate correct respiration with left side or right side inhibitoryor facilitory function.
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Hruska Clinic Restorative Physical Therapy Services
5241 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68504
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