Postural Reconstruction® Physiotherapy

What is Postural Reconstruction®?

Postural Reconstruction® is a physiotherapy approach used to:

• alleviate pain
• improve dysfunction
• reduce postural distortion (by rebalancing muscular tone)

Our muscles constantly receive signals from the brain, even when our bodies are at rest, which maintains a certain level of muscular tension or tone.

In regular daily life and as a response to traumas, abnormal messages from the brain cause certain muscle groups to become more excitable. As a consequence of this unbalanced muscle tone, abnormal mechanical constraints lead to the development of deformations of the spine and limbs.

Our physiotherapist, Diane Patterson will observe these deformations and relate them to the accumulated tensions in the body. The therapeutic work involves rebalancing muscle tone in relation to the pain and postural distortions of each individual patient.

What can Postural Reconstruction® do for you?

• reduce or eliminate pain
• reduce inflammation
• improve postural alignment
• increase energy, ease of movement and body awareness
• improve function in everyday activities and athletic performance

Common Conditions Treated:

• neck and back pain, including sciatica
• headaches and migraines
• conditions such as tendonitis, thoracic outlet syndrome ,epicondylitis, patellofemoral syndrome, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ, fibromyalgia
• spinal deformities, including scoliosis and kyphosis
• rehabilitation following motor vehicle accidents and surgery
• postural misalignments

What to Expect from Postural Reconstruction® Physiotherapy:

Postural Reconstruction® Physiotherapy works to normalize the tension in the muscles of the entire body. Improved posture, fewer symptoms, increased energy and greater ease with everyday activities like walking, work, exercise, household chores and specific sports are all possible results of Postural Reconstruction® Physiotherapy.

On your first visit to the Postural Reconstruction® Physiotherapist, she will take the history of your current complaints in addition to any previous accidents and traumas into account. The Physiotherapist will do a standing postural assessment to determine the shape of your body with special emphasis on your back, rib cage, hips and pelvis and to note areas of unbalanced muscle tension. A biomechanical  evaluation is often incorporated to assess how your body performs movements.  

The evaluation is continued on a mat on the floor in which you hold specific postures that cause other parts of your body to compensate. The Physiotherapist is learning how your body works with its areas of tight muscle and postural distortions. You will be wearing your undergarments for all the treatments.

Postural Reconstruction® Physiotherapy treatment involves holding specific postures to the point of neuromuscular fatigue while lying on your back, sitting or standing. You will be asked to breathe in a special way to enable release of muscular tension. It is important to continue the special breathing during your entire session as talking, moving around or falling asleep are interruptions that decrease the effectiveness of the treatment. The Physiotherapist is constantly evaluating your response to the postures by hands-on techniques and careful visual observation aided by mirrors on the walls. Often photographs are taken as way of recording and evaluating postural changes over many sessions. For more information, please visit www.reconstruction-posturale.com.

Accompanying the release of muscular tension, people occasionally experience an emotional release in the form of laughing, crying, sadness, memories, shaking or feelings of warmth and peace. This may be part of your healing process.

After the treatment, the Physiotherapist will re-evaluate the standing posture to note changes in your body. Ideally, it is best to follow the treatment with a walk and to take it easy for the rest of the day. Responses to treatment are variable – some people are energized while others are exhausted. It is O.K. to feel an increase in your usual pain or an odd pain during the first 48 hours as you have just worked your muscles to the point of fatigue. If you acquire a new pain or your symptoms are aggravated for longer than three days, discuss this with your Physiotherapist.

Each treatment is once a week for one hour with a one to one therapist to client ratio. The frequency may decrease as your symptoms improve. A typical series of treatments is 12 visits, although obviously due to individual variation, people can require more or less than 12.

Although Postural Reconstruction® Physiotherapy is not covered by Alberta health Services, many supplemental health insurance plans cover Physiotherapy.

Book your Appointment today or Call us at 403-313-4354