InFocus: Articles
|
|
InFocus: Articles |
|
What is Rolfing/Structural Integration?
Rolfing or structural integration is a comprehensive system of hands-on, connective tissue manipulation and movement education which releases stress patterns and impaired function. The term "Rolfing" is derived from its originator Dr Ida Rolf Ph.D. Why is connective tissue so important? All the major systems in the body are supported and covered by connective tissue: circulatory, digestive, nervous, musculo-skeletal, and organs. When healthy the tissue is flexible, and resilience. It responds to gravity, illness, injury and emotional trauma, and any of these can create an imbalance. When this happens the tissue shortens, thickens and becomes dehydrated which impairs joint and muscle function. This is usually felt in the body as chronic pain, discomfort, stiffness or decreased flexibility and impaired movement. Rolfers argue that the connective tissue needs assistance for it to return to its original state, and this what they do during the 10 sessions.For example, a person with a broken left leg may walk with his or her body weight transferred to the right side. However, this pattern of holding and walking will often remain long after the broken leg has healed. The person will still walk with more weight on their right leg. This will create various imbalances and tensions within the body, as it fights against gravity and the need to realign itself. Reference: Guild for Structural Integration What happens in rolfing treatments? In a Rolfing Session, the practitioner works deeply but gently with his/her hands, untangling the web of tissues while the client is asked to relax and assist by making slow, precise movements. Gradually, over a series of ten or so sessions, posture improves (as measured by photographs taken before and after sessions), the muscles reset their tone, and the body acquires a lightness and responsiveness in carriage and movement.To work at the depth necessary to evoke permanent change, particularly around old injuries or especially tense areas, sometimes involves momentary intense sensation as the tissue is stretched and opened. For others, the sessions bring up deep emotional release. The Rolfer and the client work together to build the trust necessary to sustain these changes. All the movements of Rolfing are slow, and the client always has full control. The Rolf Institute (in Boulder, Colorado, USA, and Munich, Germany) insist that all Rolfing practitioners be trained to a very high standard, including rigorous anatomy and physiology instruction, extensive experience with "hands on" manipulative work and a high degree of psychological and empathetic expertise. Who benefits? Rolfing can be employed for a number of purposes. Perhaps the most common is to combat the pain or deadening fatigue brought on by bad posture or chronic structural imbalances (although Rolfing is no substitute for medical help when needed). Rolfing is also extensively used by dancers, artists and sportsmen to enhance performance and sensitivity. Rolfing is also useful in resolving unfinished emotional issues, which are dramatised in the postural attitudes and chronic holding patterns of the body.Source: www.rolfingeurope.com Unproven Uses Aetna Intelihealth www.intelihealth.com offer a note of caution about rolfing saying that the medical techniques have not been evaluated by scientific studies. This is true of many complementary health techniques. A key factor will be the quality of your practitioner. In a Yahoo Group on structural integration, a practising rolfer made the comment 'Every school has its strengths and weaknesses, but practitioner differences, in my considerable experience, are far greater than school differences'. This was echoed by another practitioner who too observed that 'I have been teaching courses for all sorts of SI practitioners for a number of years - Rolfers, GSIers, Soma, Heller, IPSB, CORE, Utah School, et al - and I can tell you emphatically that the differences among schools are less than the differences among practitioners. There are skilled Rolfers and embarrassing Rolfers, excellent Guilders and whining Guilders, sensitive KMIers and off-the-wall KMIers, psychologically adept Hellerworkers and ham-handed Hellerworkers'.These comments about the variability in the competence of structural integration practitioners can obviously be made about the work of any professional. However, given the deeper work of this therapy it may be best to seek medical advice before embarking on treatment in some cases. Having said that, given the likely limited understanding and knowledge of structural integration work this may not be readily available, at least in the UK. The following is an extract from InteliHealth: "...Rolfing has been suggested for many uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially life-threatening. Conditions
Potential Dangers Rolfing is generally believed to be safe in most people. Because Rolfing involves deep manipulation of tissues, some people should avoid this technique, including people with broken bones, severe osteoporosis, disease of the spine or vertebral disks, skin damage or wounds, bleeding disorders, or blood clots in areas being manipulated. People taking blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) should also avoid Rolfing. People with joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or aortic aneurisms should speak with their health care provider if considering Rolfing. People who have had procedures or diseases affecting the abdomen should speak with their health care provider before starting Rolfing.There is a report that deep tissue massage moved a ureteral stent out of its proper position. Pregnant women should avoid Rolfing. Some Rolfing practitioners discourage treatment in people with psychosis or bipolar disorder and suggest that therapy may cause the release of suppressed memories of severe emotional anguish, although there is no known scientific basis for these precautions. It has also been suggested that Rolfing be used cautiously in women who are menstruating and in people with severe diseases of the kidneys, liver or intestines, although there is no scientific information in these areas. Summary Rolfing has been suggested for many conditions. "There is little well-designed scientific research of this technique, and it is not known if Rolfing is safe or effective for the treatment of any disease. People with fractures or spine disease, those at risk of bleeding, those with blood clots and pregnant women should avoid Rolfing."The information used by InteliHealth was they say "prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard". |
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| Copyright Comptogether 2005. Design by Tracey Goulding Website by www.cbcom.co.uk Sponsored by www.justbiz.co.uk |
