Research

1977

Project

UCLA Department of Kinesiology; five year study conducted by Dr. Valerie Hunt and Dr. Wayne Massey; “A Study of Structural Integration from Neuromuscular, Energy Field and Emotional Approaches” completed in 1977. There were measurements before and after Rolfing of anxiety states, brain hemisphere activity, energy field photography, DC recordings of energy flow in electrical voltage readings, EMG recordings from sixteen separate muscles, electromyograms of neuromuscular patterning of energy, and electronic auric field study.

Result

• This five year study produced many results, difficult to summarize adequately in a brief statement. These are a few of the outstanding results:

• greater physical skill

• emotional calmness; decrease in anxiety state

• improved sensory awareness

• improved social interaction

• feelings of well being

• memory recall

• enhanced ability to access different states of consciousness

• increasing right hemisphere brain dominance when needed for right brain activity

• evidence of changes in ways of processing data and the nature of thought processes that ensue

• greater movement efficiency

• more energy; less fatigue

• improved neuromuscular balance

• greater energy flow and balance distribution of energy

1978

Project

Children’s Project; three year pilot study in Philadelphia, PA conducted by a group of Rolfers led by Robert Toporek, 1978; monograph “The Promise of Rolfing Children” reported on this study- published in 1981. Each child’s photograph before Session 1 and after Session 10 and some two and three years later were shown. A summary of results gathered from interviewing the parents and Rolfer’s comments documented the changes.

Result

This pilot study with children demonstrated that:

• A dramatic improvement in the children’s physical, psychological and behavioral patterns had occurred.

• consistently parents reported the children had increased confidence, better verbal expression, more self control and less destructive behavior.

• Rolfing is an effective means to address conditions such as cerebral palsy or scoliosis.

1981

Project

“Functional Evaluation of Rolfing in Cerebral Palsy,” Perry, Jones and Thomas, 1981. Ten persons with mild to severe category Cerebral Palsy received the ten session Rolfing series.

Result

The younger mild to moderately affected persons experienced significant changes in lower extremity passive range of motion, muscle strength, balance and gait.

Project

Alexis B. Hansen, Karen S. Price and Heidi M. Feldman. “Myofascial Structural Integration: A Promising Complementary Therapy for Young Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy.” Eight children with spastic cerebral palsy, ages 2-7, were Rolfed once a week for ten weeks in 60-90 minute sessions. The structural integration therapy focused on creating structural changes within the spastic muscles and surrounding tissues to decrease stiffness and resistance to stretch, in an effort to increase motor skills.

Result

Six of the eight children who underwent the treatment improved their score in a Gross Motor Function Measure. All of the children, including the two whose Gross Motor Function Measure scores did not improve, experienced improvements in their health and well-being, as reported by their parents or caretakers. These changes included things like increased appetite, better bowel function, speech, drooling, mood and maturity. Seven parents also reported an increase in height and/or weight in their children, who were previously below the normal growth curve. Parents reported that their children looked forward to being Rolfed, and several parents elected to continue Structural Integration treatment after the completion of the study.

Project

Werner Klinger, MD, Christoph Schlegel and Robert Schleip PhD. “The role of fascia in resting muscle tone and heat induced relaxation.” Departments of Anesthesiology' and Applied Physiology, Ulm University, Germany. Testing application of heat on muscular and fascial fibers to understand the mechanism by which heat relaxes those fibers.

Result

Found that the direct fascial relaxation as a result of the application of heat improved resting muscle tone. Supports the idea that the regulation of fascial stiffness has a direct impact on resting muscle tone.

Project

Willem J Fourie. Nat.Dipl. P.T. “Fascia lata: Merely a thigh stocking, or a coordinator of complex thigh muscular activity.” School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Republic of South Africa. Studied the fascia lata a broad, dense layer of fascia that encloses the thigh muscles like a stocking to detennine what role it has in the function of the knee by dissecting the thighs of cadavers from both sexes.

Result

Determined that the fascia lata plays a large role in the normal function of the knee and thigh muscle in the production of force. The fascia lata controls and creates pressure in the thigh used for locomotion. The function of the fascia lata greatly impacts the overall capacity for locomotion.

Project

Thomas W. Findley, M.D., Ph.D., Carol Gill, M.D., Miriam Maney, M.A., David Wronski. “Structural integration (Rolfmg) in persons with incomplete spinal chord injury.” Full ten- session series of Rolfing (SI) given to adults with incomplete spinal chord injuries. Used Neurocom Equitest SOT and Spielberger Anxiety Test to quantify changes.

Result

• 38 year old T8 SCI who used a wheelchair and was unable to walk was able to walk independently short distances after ten 60 minute sessions of Rolfmg

• 56 year old C34 SCI was able to raise right arm over head after first session of Rolfing, which he had been previously unable to do, after six additional sessions his reported a markedly reduced pain level

• 46 year old L4 paraplegic was able to tie shoelaces independently without spasms after one session

Project

Thomas W. Findley, M.D., Ph.D., Miriam Maney, M.A., Hans Chaudhry, Ph.D. “Sensory Improvement with Structural Integration (Rofling).” Persons with peripheral neuropathy, decreased sensation, especially common in diabetics, were given 10 sessions of Rolfmg (SI) therapy.

Result

• A woman who had 4 days of left-side weakness and slurred speech after a difficult labor and delivery, sought Rolfing for pain and fatigue, no medical diagnosis had been made. After 10 sessions of Rolfmg, she had increased sensation in left hand and her balance had improved. She also reported that fatigue and pain no longer interfered with her daily activities.

• A man with early childhood scoliosis fell off a horse injuring his left hip and was left with intermittent numbness in his right leg, sought Rolfmg for pain and decreased mobility. After 10 sessions of Rolfing he reported an increase in sensation in both legs.

Project

Helen James, MPT, Luis Castenada, SMPT, Marilyn E. Miller, Ph.D., P.T., G.C.S. “The effects of Rolfmg Structural Integration (RSI) on neck ROM and pain.” Califoma State University, Physical Theraphy Department. Study of 31 subjects with complaints of limited motion and pain in neck who were seen in a Rolfmg and Physical Therapy practice.

Result

Rolfmg significantly reduced pain and increased range of motion in the neck.