Book
Review 2
Title:
Positional Release Therapy -- Assessment and Treatment of Musculoskeletal
Dysfunction
Authors:
Kerry J. D'Ambrogio, PT, George B. Roth, DC, ND Publisher:Mosby-Yearbook,
Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, 1997 Number of Pages:259 Price:$76.99 Part
No:T-184 Positional release therapy (PRT), the authors state, is a generic
name for the strain-counterstrain technique originated by Lawrence H.
Jones, DO, who published a book with the same title in 1981. I dug up
my old copy of the Jones book and compared it with PRT. This "new
edition" of strain-counterstrain includes better discussions on the
scientific rationale of soft tissue dysfunction, plus an appendix of 145
strain-counterstrain terms and how they correspond to positional release
therapy terminology. The technique illustrations which comprise the majority
of both books are improved in both detail and layout in PRT. There is
a short chapter and an appendix devoted to a recordkeeping system that
is rather bulky and will probably be ignored by the majority of practitioners
who purchase the text.
PRT or strain-counterstrain is a technique of reducing tender points in
the soft tissues by passively placing the patient in a position where
light digital pressure on the tender point is no longer painful, and then
holding that position for approximately 90 seconds. After 90 seconds,
the patient is slowly returned to neutral and reexamined (range-of-motion/palpation)
for improvement.
The authors have similar stories which sparked their interest in strain-counterstrain.
Kerry D'Ambrogio, suffering from chronic groin, hip flexor, and knee pain
caused by athletic injuries, attended a seminar by Lawrence Jones. After
one treatment by Dr. Jones, his improvement was so substantial that he
eventually began working with Jones, teaching strain-counterstrain in
seminars.
George Roth suffered from intermittent upper back pain caused by a childhood
automobile accident and was in the midst of a three-month flare-up, which
was also unresponsive to multiple types of treatment. His condition resolved
after one treatment with the strain-counterstrain by a student of Dr.
Jones.
The authors do state in more than one area that PRT is not a panacea (I
can attest to that, because it did not help me when I had an acute case
of lumbar discitis a few years ago). The authors further state that when
PRT is performed correctly, significant results should be seen within
three to five visits. They also recommend using PRT with other treatment
modalities (manipulation, mobilization, exercises, and other soft tissue
techniques) for maximum effectiveness.
It is this author's opinion that chiropractors who limit their practices
to manipulation only will find it increasingly difficult to compete with
DCs who incorporate other types of manual physical medicine procedures
in their practices. PRT is well illustrated and easy to follow. Chiropractors
who are interested in expanding their types of treatment and are looking
for a soft tissue technique that is gentle and easy on the bodies of both
doctor and patient should consider purchasing this text.
Dr. Andersen's Rating: 8
916
E. Imperial Hwy.
Brea, CA. 92821
(714) 990-0824
Fax:
(714) 990-1917
gdandersen@earthlink.net
www.andersenchiro.com
|