Ron Hruska, MPA, PT

Title
Founder
Company
Postural Restoration Institute
Bio
Ron graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and matriculated to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, completing a degree in Physical Therapy. Following graduation from Physical Therapy school in 1980, Ron accepted a position as a staff PT at the Omaha Veterans Administration Medical Center. In 1983, he was promoted to Assistant Chief and Clinical Educator. During this time, he also earned a Masters of Public Administration through the University of Nebraska, Omaha. In 1984, Ron accepted a position as Director of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at St. Elizabeth Community Health Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he served in this role until 1997. In 1997, he began working with Inverse Technology Corporation as Director of Clinical Services. During this time, Ron was teaching courses across the country on “Patella-Femoral Dysfunction and Protonics”, as well as the first Postural Restoration® courses. In 1999, Ron opened a private practice physical therapy clinic, Hruska Clinic Restorative Physical Therapy Services, in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 2000, as a result of his extensive clinical and professional experience, he established the Postural Restoration Institute®, to explore and explain the science of postural adaptations, asymmetrical patterns and the influence of polyarticular chains of muscles. In 2011, Ron co-founded PRI Vision, LLC in Lincoln, NE with Dr. Heidi Wise.

Ron has developed a strong interest in myokinematic, biomechanical, occlusal and visual influences on postural and peripheral adaptation patterns. Over 35 years of clinical experience assists him with direct patient interventions based on specific examination and evaluation data that best reflects neuromechanical stability, trunk symmetry and respiratory balance. In his earliest clinical practice at the Omaha Veterans Administration Medical Center, he recognized asymmetrical patterns that were influencing posture and movement, which led to the beginning of the science which is now Postural Restoration®. He lectures extensively and consults regularly with physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, optometrists, dentists, and other health care and fitness professionals across the United States and internationally on patterned postural position and pathology and his approach of restoring symmetrical balance using Postural Restoration® principles. As a result of his clinical experience and interdisciplinary evidence based integration, patients and healthcare professionals travel from across the country and internationally to the Hruska Clinic in Lincoln, Nebraska for consultation and treatment. These patients are usually experiencing symptoms of movement dysfunction associated with neuro-muscular, respiratory and sensorial asymmetry.

Throughout his entire career as a physical therapist, he has remained a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, where he has served on the Judicial Committee, Reference Committee, and House of Delegates. Ron has served as President of the Nebraska Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association. He has also served on the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, where he was one of five individuals to be selected on the Model Practice Act Task Force. Ron has also served on the Nebraska Department of Health Physical Therapy Board, where he was appointed by the governor to Chairman of the Board of Examiners in Physical Therapy. Ron is co-inventor of the Protonics Neuromuscular Training System. Ron has also invented and patented the Prism and Priori PRI Aquatic systems.

Over his career, Ron has presented at several national and state American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) conferences, the American Academy of Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry (AAPMD) Annual Airway Summits, the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) Convention, as well as National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA) and National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) national and local conferences. Ron has authored articles published in journals including; Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinics of North America, Dental Clinics of North America, The Journal of the American Dental Association, and EXPLORE.

Ron is the founder of the Postural Restoration Institute®, where he continues to teach around 20 courses each year across the country and internationally. He currently consults at the Hruska Clinic, Restorative Physical Therapy Services and Hohl Orthodontics in Lincoln, Nebraska, and IPA Manhattan in New York City. In addition, Ron serves as a Biomechanical Consultant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through the Division of Athletic Medicine.

Lecture:

Workshop: The Role of Physical Therapy in the Management of the Obstructed and Unaligned Airway

The human airway lies behind the nose, the tongue, the mandible and the hyoid, and in front of the spine of the neck. Its lumen of the human airway has three primary sites of vulnerability to compressive and torsional occlusion. The nasopharynx or behind the nose, oropharynx behind the tongue, and laryngopharynx, behind the hyoid and above the larynx. This discussion will outline physical and visual movement that incorporates inter and intra limb function into daily activity to reduce this possible obstruction. Arch management of the feet, thoracic rib cage, hyoid, and mandible will be outlined and discussed with visible demonstration of re-established cervical position and corresponding airway aligned flow, through visual and body sense associated with inter and intralimb pendular coordination.

Goals

  1. Outline the arches of the body that have the greatest impact and influence on cervical and pharyngeal position and opening.
     
  2. Describe the human patterns most often associated with forward and lateral head influence on the opening and lumen of the human airway.
     
  3. Identify three tests that provide outcome measurements that reflect airway alignment, before and after application of coordinated pendular limb movement techniques.
     
  4. Become proficient in advising those with limb, chest and airway management dysfunction on how to move forward without compromising airflow.

 


Thursday, November 12, 2020

Panel Discussion: Dental and physical therapy collaborative management for patients going through airway orthodonic treatment

Orthodontic treatment of the airway often includes repositioning and/or guided growth of the maxilla, mandible and soft tissue structures. It has been found that patients tolerance and outcomes are much improved when working collaboratively with physical and myofunctional therapy. This panel discussion will focus on evaluation and intervention strategies related to treatment of this population.
Participants will have a better understanding of how physical therapists and dentists are problem solving and working together to help improve patient outcomes for this patient population.

Saturday, November 14, 2020