What is rolfing?

Overview

Rolfing is a method of deeply massaging all the connective tissue, known as fascia, between muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons in the body in an effort to realign and restructure the overall skeletal composition. Rolfing therapy was invented in the 1930s by Ida Rolf, a biochemist, in an attempt to treat her own scoliosis and that of her two sons after being dissatisfied with the results of yoga, osteopathy, and homeopathy.

Mechanism of Action

Using hands, fingers, knuckles, elbows, and knees to apply intense pressure to inner collagen fiber, a rolfing therapist attempts to stretch and reshape the connective tissue, or fascia, between bones, tendons, muscles, and ligaments. On the theory that the skeletal structure follows the fascial makeup, rolfing therapy primarily seeks to establish increased fascial elasticity. Once tightened, fascia is unbound and lengthened through manipulation; the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones, which the fascia is attached to, may also then relax and realign after improper structure caused by gravity, inertia, sedentariness, repetitive movement, disease, or injury.

The first three sessions of rolfing therapy focus on massaging superficial tissue and improving breathing; the next four sessions involve deep manipulation of interior tissue structure; and the final three sessions integrate all parts of the body’s skeleton through fascial redistribution and connection. After ten sessions of sixty to ninety minutes of rolfing using deep tissue reintegration, the practitioner can then rediscover proper skeletal balance, form, and posture and then release accumulated stress and energy.

Uses and Applications

Rolfing is used primarily to reduce stress, alleviate pain, increase mobility, improve posture, and facilitate coordination. Rolfing is also frequently used in treating sports injuries and repetitive strain injuries, such as rotator cuff injuries.

Scientific Evidence

No double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of rolfing have been conducted, but there have been other scientific studies on the method. In 1963, the first major studies of rolfing being performed on children at the Foundation of Brain Injured Children concluded that after ten sessions, the impaired children improved in motor skills, muscle tone, posture, and coordination. In the 1970s, published scientific studies documented muscle tone, strength, and elasticity both before and after rolfing therapy, with empirical medical testing used to measure increased muscle performance. In 1981, a study was published that documented the improved lower body movement and mobility of persons with cerebral palsy who had been treated with rolfing therapy.

In 1988, a test revealed improved pelvic inclination in a group of women after rolfing therapy sessions, and in 1997, a study documented the decrease of low back pain in persons who had received rolfing therapy. In the late 1990s, various studies looked at rolfing to treat repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome; all showed significant improvement after rolfing therapy. Also in the late 1990s, a study revealed that a group of elderly persons maintained improved balance after receiving rolfing therapy. Whether or not any of the above studies would have achieved the same positive results using any other therapy or technique is unknown, as no comparisons of dissimilar treatments were employed. Moreover, because no placebo or double-blind groups were implemented in any of the studies, there is no reliable scientific evidence to support these studies’ claims, and the true efficacy of rolfing therapy remains unproven.

Choosing a Practitioner

Ideally, one should choose a practitioner who is certified by the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. To achieve even basic rolfing certification, students must take advanced training of one to two years beyond traditional massage techniques. Many therapists claim to be well versed in the art of rolfing, yet these same therapists are often only superficially familiar with its specific techniques. Because rolfing involves deep tissue manipulation, treatment from a therapist who is not certified or licensed by the institute poses a risk of injury.

Safety Issues

Persons with rheumatoid arthritis and other serious inflammatory medical conditions should avoid rolfing because it may exacerbate or worsen these conditions. Likewise, all persons who are frail or fragile should abstain from rolfing, inasmuch as the intense nature of the treatments may result in subsequent bone fractures. Additionally, pregnant women, especially after the first trimester, should seek out only those certified in the use of milder, modified rolfing techniques especially designed for use during pregnancy, or they should avoid rolfing therapy altogether.

Bibliography

Anson, Briah. Animal Healing: The Power of Rolfing. Minneapolis: Mill City Press, 2011.

Brecklinghaus, Hans. Rolfing Structural Integration: What It Achieves, How It Works, and Whom It Helps. La Vergne, Tenn.: Lightning Source, 2002.

Rolf, Ida. Rolfing: Reestablishing the Natural Alignment and Structural Integration of the Human Body for Vitality and Well-Being. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press, 1989.

_______, and Rosemary Feitis. Rolfing and Physical Reality. 2d ed. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press, 1990.

Sise, Betsy. The Rolfing Experience: Integration in the Gravity Field. Prescott, Ariz.: Hohm Press, 2005.