Rolfing for Pain Management

The fasting rising form of massage in the United States is currently the practice known as Rolfing. Through this form of soft tissue management and manipulation, people are said to experience great relief from muscular tension, full body and mind wellness, and is being promoted as one of the most effective types of pain management.

Rolfing was developed in the 1950's by Ida P. Rolf, PhD in biochemistry, and was first known as Structural Integration. In 1971, Rolf founded the The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration. Several other schools were opened later using similar methods and techniques and modern deep tissue bodywork also has its roots in Rolfing technique.

The theory behind Rolfing is that as the body matures, the connecting tissues, or fascia, bind the independent muscles of the body and limit their movement. Rolfing aims at manually separating the fascia through deep massaging and allows the muscles to work independently of each other to their full capacity as they were meant to. While the practice has been called painful in its first sessions, clients have said that the immediate pain is overshadowed by the long-term benefits.

A typical Rolfing treatment is in 10 weekly, 1 hour sessions. Each session works on unlocking a specific set of muscles beginning with those near the breathing centers and continuing on until a full-body unlock has been achieved. Rolfing practitioners unlock the muscles through deep massage using their hands, elbows, knuckles, and fingers to stretch and separate the fascia binding the muscles. By aligning the muscles in the body, patients are said to achieve great improvements in their breathing, nervous systems, digestion, and even in their emotional well-being.

Many treatments for chronic pain in the body is performed by bone specialists and chiropractors. These methods align the bones on the body, especially the spine, to reduce the tension on the muscles, but treatments must begin anew because the bad structure of the muscles soon pushes the bones back out of alignment again. Rolfing works to put the muscles into their place and thus bring the bones into alignment through the pulling and structure of the muscles themselves.

Although no medical studies have proved the effectiveness of Rolfing in pain management, clients swear by the relief the treatment provides. Scientific studies are now underway testing the success in clinical experiments. In testimonials, sufferers of chronic pain have found themselves to be completely free of their symptoms even before the end of the 10-week sessions.

Rolfing sessions usually consist of a 20 minute consultation and then the 60 minute sessions of bodywork. Fees per session range between $75 and $160.

If you are experiencing pain from such conditions as arthritis, tension, or injuries of all types, Rolfing is becoming more and more a popular first-line set of treatments to alleviate pain and bring into alignment the muscles of the entire body which can also bring great emotional well-being.