Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Practices Commons^™

Top 10 Positional-Release Therapy Techniques To Break The Chain Of Pain, Part 1, Timothy E. Speicher, David O. Draper

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Positional-Release Therapy (PRT) is a treatment technique that is gaining popularity. The purpose of this two-part column is to briefly explain the theory and application of PRT. Then, we will present our top 10 list of what we think are the most commonly treated tender points by athletic therapists, five in Part 1 and five in Part 2, along with general tips, patient self-treatments, and adjunctive techniques.

PRT, originally termed strain–counterstrain, is a therapeutic technique that uses tender points (TPs) and a position of comfort (POC) to resolve the associated dysfunction. Essentially, PRT is the opposite of stretching.

PRT is …

Top-10 Positional-Release Therapy Techniques To Break The Chain Of Pain: Part 2, Timothy E. Speicher, David O. Draper

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Positional-Release Therapy (PRT) is advocated as an effective indirect therapeutic treatment for acute, subacute, and chronic somatic dysfunction. Initial investigations have shown PRT to significantly reduce low back and hip pain and improve hip strength. The effects of PRT are thought to occur from placing a patient’s tissues in a position of comfort for an extended period of time.

Clinically, the practice of PRT and its therapeutic benefits have an established history. What is lacking is research into the neural and physiologic mechanisms of the process by which PRT alleviates somatic dysfunction. It can be tempting to view the technique …