Positional release technique (PRT)

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

• See¹

The core concept of PRT is to gently move the tissues into a supported and comfortable position (ease), and to hold that positional until a beneficial change spontaneously occurs (“release”)¹.

The PRT Technique involves: PRT involves using ischemic compression on trigger points to create a nociceptive response followed by a shortened muscle position until the trigger points deactivate PRT involves using ischemic compression on trigger points to create a nociceptive response²

Mechanism

There is no clear mechanism of action for PRT.

The reactive hyperemia hypothesis suggests that the pain and muscle spasm relief is a reaction from the hyperemia from the ischemic compression².

The spinal reflex hypothesis for PRT suggests that the ischemic compression creates a spinal reflex which relieves pain and muscle spasm².

Types

• Strain-Counterstrain

Piriformis Syndrome

1.

Chaitow L. Positional Release Techniques. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2016.

2.

Danazumi MS, Yakasai AM, Ibrahim AA, Shehu UT, Ibrahim SU. Effect of integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique compared with positional release technique in the management of piriformis syndrome. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. 2021;121(8):693-703. doi:10.1515/jom-2020-0327