Rolfing & Research
Scientific
research confirms the effectiveness of Rolfing structural integration.
Summaries of a few key studies follow:
In
her 1963 study, “Project Breakthrough”, Ida Rolf
found that children who had received Rolfing work exhibited
better muscle tone, better alignment, and improved social responsiveness.
Dr.
Valerie D. Hunt and Dr. Wayne W. Massey of the UCLA Department
of Kinesiology completed a five-year controlled study in
1977, entitled, “A study of structural integration from
neuromuscular, energy field and emotional approaches”.
They found that subjects who had received Rolfing exhibited:
-
Smoother,
larger, and less constrained extraneous movements
-
Greater
movement efficiency and improved neuromuscular balance
-
More
dynamic and energetic body movements, with less fatigue
-
A
more erect carriage with less obvious strain to maintain
held positions
-
Increased
emotional calmness, a greater sense of well being, and decreased
anxiety.
More
recent research findings include the positive effects
of Rolfing on the autonomic nervous system (published in The
Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, Mar.
1988) and benefits of Rolfing for chronic back pain (The Journal
of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, Sept.1997).
Abstracts
for many of these papers may be purchased directly from the Rolf
Institute (800.530.8875).
Studies
Integrating Manual and Movement Therapy with Philosophical
Counseling for Treatment of a Patient with Amyptrophic Lateral
Sclerosis: A case study that explores the principles of holistic
intervention. J. Cottingham, M.S., P.T. & J. Maitland,
Ph.D., Alternative Therapies In Health and Medicine,
Winter/Spring 2000.
A
Three-Paradigm Treatment Model Using Soft Tissue Mobilization
and Guided Movement-Awareness Techniques for Patients with
Chronic Back Pain: A case study. J. Cottingham & J.
Maitland, The Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical
Therapy, Vol.26, No.3, Sept.1997.
Effects
of Soft Tissue Mobilization on Pelvic Inclination Angle, Lumbar
Lordosis, and Parasympathetic Tone: Implications for treatment
of disabilities associated with lumbar degenerative joint disease. Cottingham
JT. Public testimony presentation to the National Center of
Medical Rehabilitation Research of the National Institute of
Health, Bethesda, MD; March 19, 1992. Rolf Lines, 20
(2): 42-45, 1992.
Biomechanical
Structuring for Figure Skating: Preliminary pilot study report
for the U.S. Figure Skating Association. Helen James, Katharine
Robertson, & Neal Powers, Olympic Training Center Camp,
CO, 1988.
Shifts
in Pelvic Inclination Angle and Parasympathetic Tone Produced
by Rolfing Soft Tissue Manipulation. J. Cottingham, Frances
Nelson Health Center, Illinois. The Journal of American
Physical Therapy Association, Vol. 68, 1364-1370, 1988.
Effects
of Soft Tissue Mobilization on Parasympathetic Tone in Two
Age Groups. J. Cottingham, Frances Nelson Health Center,
Illinois, 1987. The Journal of American Physical Therapy
Association, Vol. 68, 352-356, 1988.
Children
With Cerebral Palsy. Cindy Potter, 1986.
Functional
Evaluation of Rolfing in Cerebral Palsy. Perry, Jones & Thomas. Developmental
Med. Child. Neurol., 1981, 23.
Electromyographic
Evaluation of Structural Integration Techniques. V. Hunt & W.
Massey, UCLA. Psychoenergetic Systems, Gordon & Breach
Science Pub., U.K., 1977.
Effects
of Structural Integration on State-Trait Anxiety. R.
Wagner & V.
Hunt, UCLA, 1976. Journal of Clinical Psychology, Vol.
35, No.2, April 1979.
Stress,
Stimulus Intensity Control, and the Structural Integration
Technique. Silverman, Rappaport & Hopkins. Confinia
Psychiatrica, Karger Publisher, Switzerland, 1973.
Structural
Integration, I.P. Rolf, Rockefeller Institute, N.Y., 1918 – 1927.
|
