POSTURAL RECONSTRUCTION ® is a technique of physical therapy with the goal reducing pain and spinal and extremity deformity by balancing muscle tone.

IN THEORY

• Anatomic observation shows how certain muscles are organized in chains. A muscle chain is defined as the set of multi-articular muscles oriented in the same direction, overlapping like tiles on a roof. Under these conditions, all elements of a chain are interdependent making for a very powerful whole. There are 4 muscle chains in the human body which are located mostly posteriorly. Because they are constantly solicited by daily living, these chains continue to strengthen and shorten as no natural movement is capable of stretching them.
• The shortening of the muscle chains, rather than the inability to stand up to gravity, is the main cause of deformations (scoliosis being the most apparent) and of structural alterations (arthritis, discopathies, etc.). Therefore, the enemy that must be overcome is this shortening of the muscle chains. All forms of muscle building are counterproductive in the pursuit of normalization of postural muscle tone.

IN PRACTICE

Since deformation is caused by the shortening of the muscle chains, the only way to relieve pain in the spine and locomotor system is by minimizing the shortening. Most spinal problems are expressions of the hypertonicity of the muscle chains. The recovery of a normal morphology and normal muscle tone are then essential conditions for good functioning of the body and for freedom from pain.

Postural Reconstruction works to recover good functioning through a return to normal postural tone. This entails first and foremost normalization of the morphology. We can then say that we practise therapy through morphological reconstruction.

Since passive stretching has proven to be ineffective in stretching muscle chains, an active approach to stretching the muscle chains had to be devised. This approach is what we call “active inductive solicitation”. Precise, localized contractions bring about progressive, durable lengthening of the chains and, consequently, a return toward normal morphology.

A Postural Reconstruction session is :

• Long : approximately one hour; any less than this would makeany lasting improvements impossible.
• Individual : the session involves postures held during free, deep, rhythmic exhalations with the mouth open wide. Each posture is constructed and elaborated by the physiotherapist according to the patient’s deformation and defence mechanisms. No two patients will have identical sessions, and no two sessions will be identical for any one patient.

It is extremely precise work. A Reconstructor is a specialist whose training is complete and whose only tools are his/her eyes and hands.
Sometimes spectacular, often effective, always delicate to apply, this form of physiotherapy requires a high level of competence on the part of the physiotherapist.

Postural Reconstruction requires a great deal of patient participation and is contra-indicated only in cases where this participation is impossible.