Pain and Stress Relief

Structural Integration, also known as Rolfing, can relieve pain and stress in the body by opening and balancing the entire physical structure, which then can support the body in its quest to heal itself. Pain and stress, along with sensations of dullness, lack of energy, frustration, depression, and even illness are the body's language for communicating imbalances and blockages. These expressions of pain and stress, along with shortness and tightness in the myofascial network, are symptomatic of what can be long-lasting damage to the body's structure.

The gravitational field of the earth is easily the most potent physical influence on any human life. When human energy fields and gravity are at war, needless to say, gravity wins every time. It may be a man's friend and reinforces his activity, or it may be his bitter enemy and drag him to physical destruction. - Ida P. Rolf

No matter what kind of injury, stress or setback the body experiences, it will adapt itself in order to remain functional and mobile. These adaptations can bring imbalances to the overall physical structure. Examples of this may be a knee injury which imbalances the body and later leads to hip or back pain, or, headaches which occur as an aftermath to whiplash, shoulder, and spinal injuries received in an automobile accident. Stress will often manifest itself as tension or tightness in the spine, shoulders, chest, and neck which then can result as headaches, TMJ pain, shoulder pain, increased anxiety, and frustration.

Structural Integration (Rolfing) not only addresses the localized symptoms of discomfort, but also evaluates and treats what is needed in the entire person's structure in order to bring lasting relief. Since the areas of discomfort are often the symptoms of imbalance and not the causes of the trauma and suffering, Structural Integration (Rolfing) seeks to open, loosen, release, and balance the whole physical structure. This flexibility and balance re-establishes a sense of order, comfort, and ease that brings long-lasting relief to the body.

When the body gets to working appropriately, the force of gravity can flow through. Then, spontaneously, the body heals itself. - Ida P. Rolf

Following are some examples of painful and stressful conditions which can be relieved by Structural Integration:

Sedentary Work

Structural Integration (Rolfing) can help with the pain and discomfort created by repetitive phone and computer work such as headaches, TMJ, eye strain, neck, shoulder, and spinal pain, carpal-tunnel syndrome, loss of energy, etc.

Injuries and Surgeries

Structural Integration (Rolfing) reduces scar tissue, tightness, shortness, and stiffness while it brings balance and relief from the damaging and negative impact on the body received as a result of accidents, illnesses, surgeries, medical procedures, pregnancies, birthing, etc.

Long-term Discomfort, Pain and Stress

These symptoms may not be the result of a particular incident, but manifest from the effects of long-term repetitive movement patterns; imbalanced or poor postural patterns; environmental, mental, and emotional stresses; and the long-term manifestation of a deteriorating physical body as it struggles against the constant pull of gravity on its structure. Structural Integration (Rolfing) can help reverse the negative effects of these long term tendencies through opening, aligning, and balancing the body's postural and movement patterns into a new more highly organized holistic somatic structure.

Demanding Physical Activity

Structural Integration (Rolfing) helps loosen muscles and realign the body's structure that has been compromised by the intense physical demands of the work required for construction, landscape, mechanics, heavy equipment operators, etc. Injuries from athletics, weightlifting, fitness programs, and martial arts, etc. can fall under this category. See "Enhanced Fitness" for more discussion on this topic.

Motherhood

Structural Integration (Rolfing) can help the mother who finds herself in pain from taxing her structure by lifting, holding, and carrying her child (usually favoring one hip) while also carrying and juggling all the necessary baby supplies.

Health Care Professionals

Nurses and health care professionals often strain their bodies in the demanding requirements for lifting, adjusting, and moving the patients they serve. These imbalances usually heal quickly once balance is restored through Structural Integration (Rolfing).

Illness

Asthma, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and other long-term illnesses which can cause the body to tighten, contract, and close down around the symptoms of pain, stress, and discomfort associated with that illness can respond well to Structural Integration. (Rolfing).

Contemporary Lifestyle Stresses

The physical, emotional, and mental stresses experienced in this fast-paced world with its demanding qualities of excessive stimuli, alienation, and overextended and overworked commitments truly tighten and shorten our physical bodies. These stresses combined with poor diets, lack of stretching and exercise, and insufficient quantities of sleep and relaxation create energetic deficits and structural imbalances. Structural Integration (Rolfing) with its deeply-rooted goals to open and balance the body can offer healthy relief to the pressures of modern living.

No situation exists in a human which a psychologist would diagnose as a feeling of insecurity or inadequacy unless it is accompanied by a physical situation which bears witness to the fact that the gravitational support is inadequate. - Ida P. Rolf