So what's the bottom line on Rolfing?

[cloudshipsrule]

I found out that my wife's massage therapist is a certified rolfer (SP?). Searching the Internet results in tons of biased information, and I'm searching for sound information on this practice. Typing 'homeopathy' and 'rolfing' together in a search engine gives a lot of results also, which is what I feared.

It sounds as if there is some sound science behind the practice of Rolfing, but if it is closer to the woo side of pseudo-science I'd be leery of anything this guy does to 'help' my wife's back problems. Would she be better off with an actual physical therapist? Do massage therapists bridge the gap between physical therapists and witch doctors? There is simply a dearth of information out there, and I'd love some help in getting my wife real solutions to her problem.

Thanks for any advice/information!

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Seems everybody’s joggin’ or heavy into health sh**
Don’t tell me that I ought to get rolfed
’cause I love cajun martinis and playin’ afternoon golf

---Jimmy Buffett

[JJM]

I found out that my wife's massage therapist is a certified rolfer (SP?). {snip}.

It sounds as if there is some sound science behind the practice of Rolfing, but if it is closer to the woo side of pseudo-science I'd be leery of anything this guy does to 'help' my wife's back problems. Would she be better off with an actual physical therapist? Do massage therapists bridge the gap between physical therapists and witch doctors? There is simply a dearth of information out there, and I'd love some help in getting my wife real solutions to her problem.You need to start with an MD or DO who can do a real evaluation and referral. I personally doubt there is any real science behind rolfing. As for certification, it has no significance.

Rolfing® (Rolfing Method of Structural Integration, structural integration, structural processing): Form of myofascial massage developed in the 1930s in New York by Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D. (1896-1979), an organic chemist who had studied yoga and chiropractic. The Rolf Institute, in Boulder, Colorado, founded in 1971, quoted her in a pamphlet: "Rolfers make a life study of relating bodies and their fields to the earth and its gravity field, and we so organize the body that the gravity field can reinforce the body's energy field." Rolfing theory posits "muscle memory": recollection of an incident "held" or "recorded" in a particular part of the body. Rolfers adjust the massage when they supposedly detect areas of "energy imbalance" within the body. Proponents claim that one's posture reveals past traumatic experiences, that Rolfing effects emotional and "energetic" release, and that this alleged release restores the flow of "vital energy" and integrates mind and body.
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/dictionary/mdqr.html (http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/dictionary/mdqr.html)

See also- http://www.skepdic.com/rolfing.html (http://www.skepdic.com/rolfing.html)


Ordinary massage and the legitimate practice of massage therapy should not be categorized as quackery. Massage can help people relax, relieve aching muscles, and temporarily lift a person's mood. However, many therapists make claims that go far beyond what massage can accomplish. And even worse, massage therapy schools, publications, and professional groups are an integral part of the deception.
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/massage.html (http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/massage.html)

[cloudshipsrule]

Thanks for the replies.

[Michael C]

I've met a few Rolfers, and they were all pretty New-Age. I even went through the series of ten "Rolfing" sessions: it was like a very intense massage, which usually left me feeling good. I don't think my body was permanently re-structured, as the Rolfers would claim, but I think the experience was generally beneficial.

As far as I can tell, the claims that Rolfing can influence neurological functioning or have deep psychological effects ("releasing the memories stored in the tissues") are unfounded.

I'd say almost any form of massage can temporarily help relieve back problems: the most important thing is to find a therapist with a good "feel". But for long-term relief, look for a physiotherapist who will also help your wife to help herself. The backbone is supported by muscles, and these muscles need to keep in shape. Swimming is good.

[cloudshipsrule]

Thanks Michael. I just got off the phone with my wife (I'm "Working" today). I asked her some specifics about her massage therapist, and it seems he's not into much of the quackery that exists out there these days. He does not believe homeopathic medicines are legitimate. He doesn't believe acupuncture would help her. (Doesn't mean he doesn't believe it works)

He does say that she needs to strengthen her back muscles as a permanent fix. He also encourages healthy eating, especially anti-oxidants.

It sounds as though he is on the fence between real sports-type massage therapy and quackery.

I know he believes the mind can retain muscle injury memories which can inhibit healing, but only to the extent that once someone is injured they may continue to over-compensate movements even after the injury itself has healed. For example, a shoulder injury may cause someone to rotate their whole body to look to one side because it's painful to only rotate the head. The shoulder injury heals, and the person still tends to rotate the whole body instead of just the head. This is they type of memory he seems to preach, which sounds plausible.

I'll continue questioning and informing my wife.

Thanks again for the replies!

[Physiotherapist]

I am both a physical therapist and a sports massage therapist. A lot of the techniques that rolfers use I use too in my practice. These techniques include myofascial release, soft tissue release, muscle energy techniques, functional technique etc.

Basically, if your posture is poor and you are sitting at a computer all day, then as postural muscles do, they will start to become short and tight and you will get compensatory patterns developing that can cause pain and problems elsewhere in the body.

When I see a client I will look at their posture so that I can get an idea of where muscular tightness is likely to be. If they sit hunched at a computer all day long, then one session might include re-education in how to sit properly and the angle at which they sit at the desk that minimises strain. In another session, I will work on both neck and shoulders, but will also work on the front of the body to open out the pec muscles, which are normally short and tight with postures such as this. I may then want to lengthen the whole of the front of the body, so I would lengthen rectus and also do some work on the Psoas - working on the Psoas generally really lengthens people out in my experience if they are very tight in this area. Being a major hip flexor, it can improve walking too.

Rolfing uses deep myofascial strokes which have the effect of lengthening tissue and I use this in my practice. Soft tissue release with active client movement is also extremely good for lengthening shortened tissue. I think most massage therapists would look at posture and structure to see lines of tension so that they know where to work.

I think that the action of just touching someone has an effect on the nervous system and certainly techniques such as muscle energy technique and Ruddy's do.

Within bodywork there is science behind it that can explain the techniques and theories are being expanded all the time by lots of practitioners - it is never ending and new theories are being developed all the time.

There is science to support the understanding of myofascial and soft tissue release.

I had a client recently who came complaining that he had pain when he moved his shoulder and he could not move his shoulder more than half way. I had seen him several times before and started work, which included work on the shoulder joint and surrounding muscles, this included massage and MFR on upper trapezius. At the end of the session he still had some restriction in movement and pain. I got him to sit on the end of the couch and then found a spot in upper trapezius which was painful. I put my elbow in it and asked him to move his head. I then asked him to move his arm. I then asked him to turn his head to the side and then take his chin to his chest and at the same time to move his arm. With this, his arm went right up to his head and there was no pain at all. I then removed my elbow and asked him to repeat the same movement - again his arm went straight up with no pain.

STR in action that really does work.

Rolfing is something that I would not consider woo - it is really about using techniques to lengthen tight muscles which massage therapists should also be doing and also looking at posture which produces the tight muscles in the first place. It is a way of improving structure to improve function.

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

I can't help seeing the word "Rolfing" and feeling it should in some way be onomatopoeic, indeed onomatopeoic for something unpleasant.

[Apathia]

Thanks, Physiotherapist.

Rolfing is pretty intense. I'd recommend it for people who like or expect their massage session to be on a rack.
It's too much for me.

[JJM]

I am both a physical therapist and a sports massage therapist. A lot of the techniques that rolfers use I use too in my practice. {snip}There is a difference between a health professional (such as yourself) applying a treament, and a "certified Rolfer" attempting the same. This woman should be professionally evaluated; and should only go to a Rolfer if her medical needs are being met and Rolfing makes her happy and does not interfere with whatever else is medically recommended.

If a person needs regular (more than two-three) back treatments by a chiropractor it is time to see a doctor (P. Long, DC "The Naked Chiropractor" and S. Homola, DC "Inside Chiropractic"). Common sense says the same is true for Rolfing. Moreover, Rolfers don't even have the (very limited) ability, possessed by some chiros, to identify serious conditions.

[fuelair]

Good for Rolf , not necessarily for you.