Postural Restoration Physical Therapy at OrthoRehab Specialists
On the outside our bodies look symmetrical, but inside they are not. Organs sit on one side or the other, and some muscles are naturally larger or more active on one side of the body. Over years of daily habits, those differences become exaggerated: the muscles you rely on get stronger and more conditioned while others stay underused. The result is asymmetrical movement patterns that show up as back pain, neck pain, hip and knee stress, headaches, breathing limitations, or a posture you cannot seem to fix by simply sitting up straight. Postural restoration is the physical therapy approach that identifies and corrects those imbalances at their source. Our Edina and Minneapolis clinics have therapists trained in this method, including a clinician credentialed through the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI).
What Postural Restoration Is
Postural restoration, as described by the institute that developed it, explores the science of postural adaptation in the body, asymmetrical patterns, and the influence of chains of muscles that cross several joints. In practical terms, it looks at how your bones and muscles shape your posture and function, then works to restore balance between overstressed and underused muscle groups. By correcting muscular and diaphragmatic imbalances, we restore alignment of the rib cage and pelvis, which reduces strain throughout the spine and lowers nervous system activity.
This is different from being told to stand up straight. Most people can hold a corrected position for a few minutes and then fall back into old habits, because the underlying issue is muscular weakness or imbalance, not a lack of effort. Postural restoration treats that underlying issue so a healthier alignment becomes your body’s natural resting state.
Who Benefits from Postural Restoration
Poor posture is common and often undertreated. Driving, working at a desk, using a phone or laptop, and watching television all encourage hunching forward or slouching, and over time that contributes to worsening back pain and problems in related areas like the hips, knees, and shoulders. Postural restoration can help with:
- Chronic neck, upper back, and lower back pain
- Forward head posture and rounded shoulders
- Scoliosis and spinal asymmetry
- Hip, knee, or shoulder pain driven by asymmetrical loading
- Tension headaches and migraines related to posture
- Breathing and rib cage restrictions
- Balance problems and fall risk
- Fatigue and muscle pain from working harder than necessary to stay upright
- Reduced athletic performance caused by inefficient movement patterns
What to Expect During Your Treatment
Your first visit starts with a physical assessment. Your therapist will have you sit, stand, and move to see how your spine responds to different positions and stresses, and will ask about your daily activities, work duties, and symptoms. Movement screenings, balance tests, and other functional scoring help pinpoint where asymmetry is causing problems. From that assessment your therapist can determine which muscle groups are underutilized, which are overstressed, and which specific exercises will target or quiet each group.
Your individualized program will typically include:
- Strength training for the specific muscles that are weak, so the spine can tolerate more load and hold alignment more easily
- Muscular balancing to restore symmetry between connected muscle systems around the spine, pelvis, and rib cage
- Breathing and diaphragm work to restore rib cage and pelvic position
- Soft tissue pliability through gentle stretching and flexibility training when tight muscles, ligaments, and tendons are pulling the spine out of alignment
- Alignment coaching so you know what correct positioning feels like while sitting, standing, and moving, and can make corrections on your own away from the clinic
Treating symptoms alone can give the appearance of relief and then a return of the same pain later. By treating the muscular or structural root cause, the improvements you gain are built to last.
Why Choose OrthoRehab Specialists
We are a therapist-owned practice with clinics in Edina and Minneapolis, and our team includes therapists trained in postural restoration who can spot the movement patterns that signal an imbalance between muscle groups. Performed correctly, this work can decrease daily pain, relieve chronic headaches, and improve athletic performance and balance. Postural restoration also fits naturally alongside our manual therapy, functional testing, and injury prevention screening services. To meet the team, visit our About Us page.
Learn More
Read more in our articles on the benefits of postural restoration, how postural restoration corrects years of poor posture, and treating postural dysfunction with physical therapy.
Make an Appointment
Under Minnesota’s direct access law you may not need a physician referral to begin, and we accept most major insurance plans. Call our Edina clinic at 952-922-0330, our Minneapolis clinic at 612-339-2041, or use the form on our Contact Us page to schedule a postural restoration evaluation.