Using the PTR
Featuring Oenone Wood, 2004 and 2005 World Cup Winner
The Portable Thoracic Rack, or PTR, is designed to reverse the poor posture we find ourselves in during our daily activities or sporting ventures. It simply acts to mobilise your thoracic spine by you laying on it. Whereas a swiss ball will conform to your stiff spine, the PTR will not. Hence, your spine will have to conform to the shape of the PTR which has been angled to achieve optimal thoracic extension while reducing excessive lumbar extension. The diagrams in figures 6, 7 and 8 show you how this is done in a simple sequence. Furthermore, the PTR has a movable head piece that adjusts to the length of your spine allowing people of all heights to use it comfortably.
The rack can also be used by a therapist during treatment sessions. If you have regular maintenance massages, take it along with you. Your therapist can help you stretch, as depicted in Figure 9 or even treat you while you are on the rack as in Figure 10.The PTR is designed for the traveling cyclist as well as the homebody. There are two versions of the Portable Thoracic Rack. The first is a robust model fashioned from aluminum that is more specifically for home and regular use at gymnasiums. The second is an extremely strong and lightweight (700 grams) robust plastic model that fits neatly into sports bags making it an easy tool to carry with you.