How Specialized Physical Therapy Can Restore Posture

Everyone’s body is a little asymmetrical. After all, you likely use your dominant side more often to perform small tasks while you might lift with your nondominant side. A few small differences aren’t a big deal and are completely natural.

However, over time, using one side of your body far more often than the other can place it under strain and stress. You might use one side over the other due to injury or illness and, even after you are better, you still use these same patterns to move. Or you may just naturally fall into patterns where one side of your body takes on the brunt of the work.

The overuse of one side of your body can cause pain and affect your posture. You may symptoms such as:

• Chronic headaches
• Jaw pain
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Lower back pain
• Recurring spasms in one part of your body
• Tendonitis (inflamed tendons) 
• Bursitis (inflamed area around your shoulder joint)
• Poor posture or leaning and/or twisting to one side

If you experience these symptoms, physical therapy can help bring your posture and entire body back into line through Postural Restoration (PRI®).

What is Postural Restoration?

Postural restoration is a type of physical therapy dedicated to correcting overuse on one side of the body and restoring better symmetry to your body. Correcting this imbalance will help relieve your pain and improve your body’s overall function.

Postural restoration uses different physical therapy techniques depending on your needs. You may receive a combination of therapies, including:

• Manual adjustments and/or massage to bring the bones and muscles into better alignment
• Personalized exercise program to build strength in the nondominant side
• Retraining your body how to sit, stand and move to prevent future pain and problems

The combination of these therapies over time will help you feel and move better. It brings your muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and other structures in your body into greater harmony.

At Bon Secours Physical Therapy, we have experienced physical therapists certified in Postural Restoration who can help you find pain relief and better function. We offer personalized care for every patient so you can achieve better quality of life.  

Find balance and pain relief; contact Bon Secours Physical Therapy today to schedule your first appointment.