Rolfing

Excerpts from the entry on Rolfing in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

Rolfing, unlike some other touch therapies, does not involve a pleasurable massage. It goes much deeper, focusing on a network of connective tissue: the fascia, which surrounds the muscles; the tendons, which link muscle to the bones; and the ligaments, which join bone to bone. It is often described as painful, but is considered very effective. It is designed to place your body in balance with gravity by releasing stress patterns that keep it out of alignment. The therapy is named after Dr. Ida P. Rolf, who believed that emotional, as well as physical health depends on being in proper alignment. Her method differs from chiropractic because she believed that, in addition to the spine, your head, ears, shoulders, thorax, pelvis, hips, knees, and ankles must also be properly aligned in order for you to be healthy.

Also in this entry:

• The History of Rolfing
• How Rolfing Works
• Painful Conditions that Respond Well to Rolfing
• Advantages of Rolfing
• How Rolfing Is Used
• Cautions
• Clinical Studies

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.