Point Release™ Technique in the Hospital Setting

Point Release™ Technique in the Hospital Setting

By Ashley Redford

MA, HHE, CSMT, CAMT, CAYT, CWHP

 It brings me great joy to live in a body that is fifteen years older and no longer limited 

by moment-to-moment pain.

There is nothing like being in a hospital for an extended time and being in pain. Many hospitals do not provide adequate pain management, costs for pain management can be astronomical, the beds are not long-term friendly, and the staff are not always available to assist you when it is needed. The Traditional Chinese Medical benefits of PRT with pain symptoms are an excellent option for patients who are hospitalized. I have applied PRT to clients in wheelchairs as well, but sensory recognition and muscular control are key components to PRT when practicing solo. Assisted applications can also be used in a hospital setting, but I am going to focus on solo application for now.

One story is about an 80-something man who had been admitted with pneumonia. He did not respond quickly to the treatment and ended up staying longer than planned and had to have a surprise surgery. During his stay, his hips caused him great grief and he would ask me to come in and work on him when I was able.  I suggested PRT to decrease pain symptoms and increase overall circulation and energy in between my visits. I was pleasantly surprised at how much relief from pain and increased energy resulted from applying the tennis ball on key GB and UB points. His countenance was bright and cheerful and he was incredibly thankful for being able to get so much relief without needing others to assist him. To say the least, he boasted to all the nurses and joked about not needing them. It was a big eye opener in understanding how user-friendly PRT was and in how many settings it could be applied.

SURGERY
I have had clients who utilized the benefits of PRT prior to going into a surgery and even after surgery. One client was going in for an ACL repair, his second one actually, and I recommended PRT prior to his surgery and afterward. We spent a couple of months orienting him to key acupuncture points that were both local and distal to his knee so that he had the most success going into the surgery and rehabilitating afterward. The surgery went smoother than expected and his rehab time ended up being shorter than planned. Since acupuncture points are beneficial for everyone, I highly recommend learning PRT for anyone who has a loved one going into the hospital or for anyone who will be going in for surgery themselves.

HOSPICE
Those who are in hospice and are experiencing pain will likely benefit from PRT. Accessing key acupuncture points with the tennis ball will not only decrease pain symptoms and improve the circulation of energy through the pathways, but it will also assist in improving sleep. Those who are bedridden but have a difficult time getting to or staying asleep because of pain can access key acupuncture points, disperse stagnation and increase energy, which is needed to fall and stay asleep.

CHILDREN
I want to also highlight the benefits of using PRT for all ages. Children who are hospitalized will also benefit from using PRT. I have not yet taken this work into a children's hospital, but imagine that the results would be similar to those I have seen with my adult clientele. The other piece I consider is that the tennis ball is something that can be enjoyed by most children. Kids love to play and being in the hospital can be a drag. Tennis balls can easily be written on with special messages, pictures, scriptures, and words.

One downside is that it can roll and bounce away, so it is best to make sure that balls have names of each person they belong to...or a dog... as a few of my clients have needed to do.

For more information on PRT or to set up an appointment or attend a class, email Ashley at: ewsomatherapy@gmail.com.

Ashley Osier began creating the Point Release™ Technique in 1992 to treat her own back pain.  She later used her continued studies with this technique to assist individuals who were experiencing varied limitations in their daily function due to injury, illness, chronic pain, and/or the effects of the natural aging process. To further work with pain issues she created the StrechFit™ Method which utilizes micro-stretching and micro-fitness approaches with multi-directional applications. Continuing with her corrective studies, Ashley became a corrective posture and exercise specialist. She found that combined methods produce the greatest results in pain management and injury rehabilitation.

In addition to the above, Ashley is a holistic health educator and therapist, stress management therapist, an acupressure and massage therapist and instructor. She specializes in working with stress management, injury prevention and pain relief, corrective exercise, therapeutic stretching for individuals and couples, and posture awareness. She also offers coaching in nutrition and support for women going through divorce. She can be reached at ewsomatherapy@gmail.com.

Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available on this blog is for general information purposes only. You agree that your use of this blog is at your  own risk. Consult your physician before beginning any stretch, exercise or self-acupressure suggestion. By using this site, you are agreeing to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Ashley Osier against any and all losses, expenses, damages and costs resulting from using the information contained within this blog.