Table Of ContentClinical Guide to Positional
Release Therapy
This page intentionally left blank
Clinical Guide to Positional
Release Therapy
Timothy E. Speicher, PhD, ATC, LAT, CSCS
Positional Release Therapy Institute
HUMAN KINETICS
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Speicher, Timothy E., 1969- , author.
Title: Clinical guide to positional release therapy with web resource /
Timothy E. Speicher.
Description: Champaign, IL : Human Kinetics, [2016] | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015025912 | ISBN 9781450496247
Subjects: | MESH: Musculoskeletal Manipulations--methods--Handbooks.
Classification: LCC R733 | NLM WB 39 | DDC 615.53--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015025912
ISBN: 978-1-4504-9624-7 (print)
Copyright © 2016 by Timothy E. Speicher
All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, and in
any information storage and retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Notice: Permission to reproduce the following material is granted to instructors and agencies who have purchased Clinical
Guide to Positional Release Therapy: pp. 315-331. The reproduction of other parts of this book is expressly forbidden
by the above copyright notice. Persons or agencies who have not purchased Clinical Guide to Positional Release Therapy
may not reproduce any material.
The web addresses cited in this text were current as of November 2015, unless otherwise noted.
Acquisitions Editor: Joshua J. Stone; Developmental Editor: Judy Park; Senior Managing Editor: Carly S. O’Connor;
Copyeditor: Patsy Fortney; Indexer: Nancy Ball; Permissions Manager: Dalene Reeder; Senior Graphic Designer: Nancy
Rasmus; Cover Designer: Keith Blomberg; Photograph (cover): Neil Bernstein; © Human Kinetics; Photographs (interior):
Neil Bernstein, unless otherwise noted; photos on pages 5, 50-55, 59, 64, 73, 75-77, 85, 87, 97, 99, 101, 102-103, 105,
107, 109-111, 113-116, 127, 129, 133-136, 139-141, 144, 146, 148, 161, 167, 169-172, 175, 177, 183, 185, 187-189,
202-205, 207, 209-211, 215, 217-218, 220-224, 241, 244-245, 247, 249, 251, 253, 255, 257, 266, 268-269, 271-274,
287-293, and 295-301 by Bradley W. Carroll; photos on pages 35 and 37 courtesy of Teara Galbrath; all photos © Human
Kinetics; Photo Asset Manager: Laura Fitch; Visual Production Assistant: Joyce Brumfield; Photo Production Manager:
Jason Allen; Senior Art Manager: Kelly Hendren; Associate Art Manager: Alan L. Wilborn; Illustrations: © Human Kinetics,
unless otherwise noted; Printer: Versa Press
The video contents of this product are licensed for private home use and traditional, face-to-face classroom instruction only.
For public performance licensing, please contact a sales representative at www.HumanKinetics.com/SalesRepresentatives.
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The paper in this book is certified under a sustainable forestry program.
Human Kinetics
Website: www.HumanKinetics.com
United States: Human Kinetics Australia: Human Kinetics
P.O. Box 5076 57A Price Avenue
Champaign, IL 61825-5076 Lower Mitcham, South Australia 5062
800-747-4457 08 8372 0999
e-mail:
This book is dedicated foremost
to my life partner, Stephanie. I would not have had
the capacity to write and complete this text with-
out her unyielding support and perseverance; she
endures much as I chase my dreams. I would also
like to dedicate this book to my two daughters,
Morgan and Marley, because they unknowingly
provided me the energy and perspective to com-
plete the book. And finally, to my mother; without
her, nothing in my life would be possible.
I would also like to dedicate this book to my
mentors and friends who believed in me when no
one else did, who challenged me, and, most import-
ant, who revealed to me when I needed to change.
This page intentionally left blank
CONTENTS
Treatment Finder ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Accessing the Web Resource xv
PART I Foundational Applications and Procedures
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Positional Release Therapy 3
Strain Counterstrain 5
Tissue Assessment and Documentation 6
Strain Counterstrain Versus Positional Release Therapy 9
Positional Release Therapy Guidelines 10
Summary 13
CHAPTER 2 Positional Release Therapy Research and Theory 15
Neurophysiological Foundations 16
Somatic Dysfunction and the Osteopathic Lesion 20
Clinical Implications 25
Summary 26
CHAPTER 3 Special Populations 29
Youth and Elderly Patients 30
Mastectomy Patients 33
Competitive Athletes 35
Pregnant Patients 36
Populations With Disabilities and Disease 37
Summary 43
PART II PRT Techniques by Anatomical Area
CHAPTER 4 Foot 47
Dorsal Structures 50
Plantar Structures 55
Common Injury Conditions 65
Summary 68
CHAPTER 5 Ankle and Lower Leg 69
Anterior Structures 72
Medial Structures 77
Posterior Structures 80
Lateral Structures 85
Common Injury Conditions 88
Summary 92
vii
Contents
CHAPTER 6 Knee and Thigh 93
Anterior Structures 96
Medial Structures 103
Posterior Structures 111
Lateral Structures 114
Common Injury Conditions 118
Summary 121
CHAPTER 7 Pelvis 123
Anterior Structures 126
Posterior Structures 138
Common Injury Conditions 149
Summary 155
CHAPTER 8 Spine 157
Anterior Structures 160
Posterior Structures 172
Common Injury Conditions 190
Summary 198
CHAPTER 9 Shoulder 199
Anterior Structures 202
Posterior Structures 218
Common Injury Conditions 231
Summary 235
CHAPTER 10 Elbow and Forearm 237
Anterior Structures 240
Medial Structures 248
Posterior Structures 250
Lateral Structures 256
Common Injury Conditions 258
Summary 262
CHAPTER 11 Wrist and Hand 263
Anterior Structures 266
Posterior Structures 273
Common Injury Conditions 276
Summary 280
CHAPTER 12 Cranium 281
Osseous Structures 287
Muscular Structures 297
Common Injury Conditions 306
Summary 314
Appendix 315
References 333
Index 347
About the Author 351
viii
TREATMENT FINDER
Anatomical Areas
Abductor digiti minimi 61 Infrahyoids 304
Abductor hallucis 59 Infraspinatus 219
Abductor pollicis brevis and Intercostals 168
flexor pollicis brevis 272 Lateral collateral ligament 115
Achilles tendon 80 Lateral epicondyle and common
Adductor group 108 extensor tendon 256
Anconeus 253 Lateral pterygoid 300
Anterior acromioclavicular joint 205 Lateral rotator tendons of the hip 138
Anterior and middle scalenes 162 Latissimus dorsi 223
Anterior talofibular ligament 76 Levator scapulae: shoulder 230
Biceps aponeurosis 240 Levator scapulae: spine 173
Biceps brachii long head tendon 208 Longus capitis and longus colli 164
Biceps brachii short head tendon 210 Lumbar erector spinae 186
Brachioradialis 241 Lumbar interspinalis 188
Calcaneofibular ligament 85 Lumbar multifidi 189
Cervical interspinalis 176 Lumbricals of the hand 269
Coccyx 183 Masseter 298
Cuneiforms 51 Maxilla 291
Deltoid 206 Medial collateral ligament 103
Deltoid ligament 77 Medial epicondyle and common flexor tendon 248
Digastric 301 Medial pterygoid 299
Dorsal interossei 50 Metacarpophalangeal joint 267
Dorsal interossei of the hand 273 Nasal 292
Extensor digitorum brevis 54 Occipital 288
Extensor digitorum longus muscle 74 Occipitomastoid 287
Extensor digitorum longus tendons 53 Olecranon 252
Extensor pollicis longus and brevis tendons 275 Opponens pollicis and adductor pollicis 270
Extensors of the wrist and fingers 254 Patella 102
Flexor hallucis brevis 57 Patellar tendon 96
Flexors of the wrist and fingers 242 Pectineus 110
Frontal 294 Pectoralis major 216
Gastrocnemius 84 Pectoralis minor 214
Gluteus maximus: inferior fibers 145 Peroneus longus and brevis 86
Gluteus maximus: superior fibers 144 Pes anserine 104
Gluteus medius 147 Piriformis 140
Hamstrings 112 Plantar aponeurosis 55
Iliacus 134 Plantar interossei and lumbricals 63
Iliotibial band 114 Popliteus 111
Inferior pubis 137 Posterior acromioclavicular joint 224
ix
