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→‎Theory and practice: copyedit to simplify overly long sentence. Having a framework doesn't have to "claim" to be systematic, a system is systematic by nature.
Undid revision 635602007 by Karinpower (talk) nope , claims must be there not an assertion
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==Theory and practice==
==Theory and practice==
Rolfing is typically performed in a progression of 10 sessions, sometimes called "the recipe", which systematically addresses goals for the alignment and movement of various body areas.<ref name= "Deutsch">{{cite book |last= Deutsch |first= Judith E. |chapter= The Ida Rolf Method of Structural Integration |editor-first= Judith E. |editor-last= Deutsch |year= 2008 |title= Complementary Therapies for Physical Therapy: A Clinical Decision-Making Approach |publisher= [[Saunders (imprint)|Saunders]] |pages= 266–7 |isbn= 0721601111 |ref= {{SfnRef|Deutsch|2008}}}}</ref> The purpose is to educate the body to have better alignment within gravity.<ref name= "Salvo">{{cite book |last= Salvo |first= Susan G. |year= 2012 |title= Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice |edition= 4th |publisher= Elsevier Saunders |page= 423 |isbn= 1437719775 }}</ref><ref name= "Schultz">{{cite book |last1= Schultz |first1= Richard Louis |last2= Feitis |first2= Rosemary |year= 1996 |title= The Endless Web: Fascial Anatomy and Physical Reality |publisher= [[North Atlantic Books]] |page= [http://books.google.com/books?id=BIKubGskvtsC&pg=PA33 33] |isbn= 1556432283}}</ref><ref name= "Baer">{{cite book |last= Baer |first= Hans |title= Toward an Integrative Medicine: Merging Alternative Therapies with Biomedicine |publisher= Rowman Altamira |date= 2004 |page= 164 |url= http://www.books.google.com/books?isbn=075910302X |isbn= 9780759103023}}</ref> Rolfers manipulate the fascia until they believe it is operating in conjunction with the muscles in a more optimal relationship.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last= Daniels |editor1-first= Rick |editor2-last= Nicoll |editor2-first= Leslie |year= 2011 |chapter= Ch. 14: Complementary and Alternative Therapies |title= Contemporary Medical-Surgical Nursing |volume= 1 |edition= 2nd |publisher= Cengage Learning |page= [http://books.google.com/books?id=-tmHtnxutW4C&pg=PA306 306] |isbn= 1439058660 |ref= {{SfnRef|Daniels & Nicoll|2011}}}}</ref><ref name=Rolfp15>{{cite book |last= Rolf |first= Ida |title= Reestablishing the Natural Alignment and Structural Integration of the Human Body for Vitality and Well-Being |page= 15 |isbn= 0892813350 |publisher= |year= }}{{psc|date=April 2013}}</ref> In addition to physical manipulation of tissue, Rolfing uses a combination of active and passive movement retraining.<ref name= "Schultz"/>
Rolfing is typically performed in a progression of 10 sessions, sometimes called "the recipe", which is claimed to provide a systematic approach to address goals for the theorized alignment and movement of various body areas.<ref name= "Deutsch">{{cite book |last= Deutsch |first= Judith E. |chapter= The Ida Rolf Method of Structural Integration |editor-first= Judith E. |editor-last= Deutsch |year= 2008 |title= Complementary Therapies for Physical Therapy: A Clinical Decision-Making Approach |publisher= [[Saunders (imprint)|Saunders]] |pages= 266–7 |isbn= 0721601111 |ref= {{SfnRef|Deutsch|2008}}}}</ref> The purpose is to educate the body to have better alignment within gravity.<ref name= "Salvo">{{cite book |last= Salvo |first= Susan G. |year= 2012 |title= Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice |edition= 4th |publisher= Elsevier Saunders |page= 423 |isbn= 1437719775 }}</ref><ref name= "Schultz">{{cite book |last1= Schultz |first1= Richard Louis |last2= Feitis |first2= Rosemary |year= 1996 |title= The Endless Web: Fascial Anatomy and Physical Reality |publisher= [[North Atlantic Books]] |page= [http://books.google.com/books?id=BIKubGskvtsC&pg=PA33 33] |isbn= 1556432283}}</ref><ref name= "Baer">{{cite book |last= Baer |first= Hans |title= Toward an Integrative Medicine: Merging Alternative Therapies with Biomedicine |publisher= Rowman Altamira |date= 2004 |page= 164 |url= http://www.books.google.com/books?isbn=075910302X |isbn= 9780759103023}}</ref> Rolfers manipulate the fascia until they believe it is operating in conjunction with the muscles in a more optimal relationship.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last= Daniels |editor1-first= Rick |editor2-last= Nicoll |editor2-first= Leslie |year= 2011 |chapter= Ch. 14: Complementary and Alternative Therapies |title= Contemporary Medical-Surgical Nursing |volume= 1 |edition= 2nd |publisher= Cengage Learning |page= [http://books.google.com/books?id=-tmHtnxutW4C&pg=PA306 306] |isbn= 1439058660 |ref= {{SfnRef|Daniels & Nicoll|2011}}}}</ref><ref name=Rolfp15>{{cite book |last= Rolf |first= Ida |title= Reestablishing the Natural Alignment and Structural Integration of the Human Body for Vitality and Well-Being |page= 15 |isbn= 0892813350 |publisher= |year= }}{{psc|date=April 2013}}</ref> In addition to physical manipulation of tissue, Rolfing uses a combination of active and passive movement retraining.<ref name= "Schultz"/>


[[Skeletal striated muscle|Skeletal muscles]] often work in opposing pairs called the "[[Agonist (muscle)|agonist]]" and the "[[Antagonist (muscle)|antagonist]]", the one [[Muscle contraction|contracting]] while the other relaxes. Rolf theorized that "bound up" [[fascia]]e (connective tissues) often restrict opposing muscles from functioning in concert. She aimed to separate the fibers of bound up fasciae manually to loosen them and allow effective movement. She claimed to have found an association between emotions and the soft tissue, which is not supported by scientific studies.<ref name= "SkepDic Rolf">{{cite book |title= [[The Skeptic's Dictionary]] |chapter= Rolfing |url= http://www.skepdic.com/rolfing |date= 22 January 2014 |last= Carroll |first= Robert Todd |authorlink= Robert Todd Carroll |edition= Online |accessdate= 2014-03-03 |isbn= 9780471272427}}</ref><ref name= "Penguin">{{Cite book | publisher = Penguin | isbn = 9780141030241 | title = The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology | chapter = Rolfing | date = 2009 |via= [[Credo Reference]]}}</ref>
[[Skeletal striated muscle|Skeletal muscles]] often work in opposing pairs called the "[[Agonist (muscle)|agonist]]" and the "[[Antagonist (muscle)|antagonist]]", the one [[Muscle contraction|contracting]] while the other relaxes. Rolf theorized that "bound up" [[fascia]]e (connective tissues) often restrict opposing muscles from functioning in concert. She aimed to separate the fibers of bound up fasciae manually to loosen them and allow effective movement. She claimed to have found an association between emotions and the soft tissue, which is not supported by scientific studies.<ref name= "SkepDic Rolf">{{cite book |title= [[The Skeptic's Dictionary]] |chapter= Rolfing |url= http://www.skepdic.com/rolfing |date= 22 January 2014 |last= Carroll |first= Robert Todd |authorlink= Robert Todd Carroll |edition= Online |accessdate= 2014-03-03 |isbn= 9780471272427}}</ref><ref name= "Penguin">{{Cite book | publisher = Penguin | isbn = 9780141030241 | title = The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology | chapter = Rolfing | date = 2009 |via= [[Credo Reference]]}}</ref>

Revision as of 03:31, 27 November 2014

This article is part of a series on
Alternative medicine
General information
Fringe medicine and science
Controversies
Classifications
Traditional medicine
Alternative diagnoses

Rolfing is an alternative medical treatment marketed by the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration (RISI).[1] The Institute states that Rolfing is a "holistic system of soft tissue manipulation and movement education that organize(s) the whole body in gravity".[1][2] Rolfing is essentially identical to Structural Integration.[3]

There is no evidence Rolfing is effective for the treatment of any health condition.[4]

History

Ida Pauline Rolf began working on clients in New York in the 1930s with the premise that the human structure could be organized in relation to gravity. In the 1950s Rolf was teaching her work across the United States, and in the mid-1960s she began teaching at Esalen Institute, where she created a loyal following of students and practitioners.[5] Esalen was the epicenter of the Human Potential Movement, allowing Rolf to exchange ideas with many of their leaders, including Fritz Perls.[6][7] In 1971 she founded the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration.[8] The school has been based in Boulder, Colorado since 1972.

Structural Integration incorporates a number of varied techniques and theories including osteopathy,[9] (including cranial osteopathy),[5] yoga,[5][10] and Alfred Korzybski's general semantics.[9]

Theory and practice

Rolfing is typically performed in a progression of 10 sessions, sometimes called "the recipe", which is claimed to provide a systematic approach to address goals for the theorized alignment and movement of various body areas.[11] The purpose is to educate the body to have better alignment within gravity.[9][12][13] Rolfers manipulate the fascia until they believe it is operating in conjunction with the muscles in a more optimal relationship.[14][15] In addition to physical manipulation of tissue, Rolfing uses a combination of active and passive movement retraining.[12]

Skeletal muscles often work in opposing pairs called the "agonist" and the "antagonist", the one contracting while the other relaxes. Rolf theorized that "bound up" fasciae (connective tissues) often restrict opposing muscles from functioning in concert. She aimed to separate the fibers of bound up fasciae manually to loosen them and allow effective movement. She claimed to have found an association between emotions and the soft tissue, which is not supported by scientific studies.[16][17]

Rolfing was often considered painful in the early years, but has become more refined. For adults, there may be moments of intense sensation during a session or mild soreness afterward. The technique can be done gently enough for children and the elderly.[18] Rolf believed that fascia tightens as a protective mechanism, so an aggressive approach can be counter-productive. [9]

On The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2007 Mehmet Oz likened Rolfing to having someone do yoga for you.[19]

Rolfers and some experts in alternative medicine describe Rolfing as "somatic education" and use terms such as "bodywork" to describe the hands-on portion of the process.[20] [21] [22] Some factions of the massage industry claim that Rolfing is a type of massage.[3] The massage tradition has drawn significantly from Rolfing, with some of Ida Rolf's students leaving to become prominent teachers of massage.[5] [18]

Other disciplines of Structural Integration

In addition to the Rolf Institute, where Certified Rolfers are trained, a number of other schools of Structural Integration certify "Practitioners of the Rolf Method of Structural Integration". Standards are maintained by a professional membership organization, the International Association of Structural Integration. These schools include the Guild for Structural Integration,[6] Hellerwork Structural Integration,[6][22][18] Aston Patterning,[6][18] SOMA.[18] KMI,[1] and over a dozen other Structural Integration schools.[1]

Effectiveness and reception

Rolfing is of no benefit in treating disease or psychological condition.[4][17]

The ideas of Rolfing such as memories being stored in parts of the body have been described as pseudoscientific.[23] [16]

Skeptics have strongly criticised Rolfing for a lack of scientific support both for its diagnostic methods and its treatment, and have included it in lists of modalities that they consider quackery.[24][25][26]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Myers, Thomas W. (2004). "Structural integration -- Developments in Ida Rolf's 'Recipe'-- I". Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 8 (2): 131–42. doi:10.1016/S1360-8592(03)00088-3.
  2. ^ "About Rolfing". rolf.org. Archived from the original on 2005-02-10.
  3. ^ a b Sherman, Karen J.; Dixon, Marian W.; Thompson, Diana; Cherkin, Daniel C. (2006). "Development of a taxonomy to describe massage treatments for musculoskeletal pain". BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 6: 24. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-6-24. PMC 1544351. PMID 16796753.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  4. ^ a b Jones, Tracey A. (2004). "Rolfing". Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 15 (4): 799–809, vi. doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2004.03.008. PMID 15458753.
  5. ^ a b c d Stillerman, Elaine (2009). Modalities for Massage and Bodywork. Mosby. pp. 152, 157, 329–345. ISBN 032305255X.
  6. ^ a b c d Claire, Thomas (1995). Bodywork: What Type of Massage to Get and How to Make the Most of It. William Morrow and Co. pp. 40–56. ISBN 9781591202325.
  7. ^ Perls, Frederick (1969). In and Out of the Garbage Pail. Real People Press.
  8. ^ "Business Search (search for 'Rolf Institute')". Secretary of State, CA.
  9. ^ a b c d Salvo, Susan G. (2012). Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice (4th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. p. 423. ISBN 1437719775.
  10. ^ Stirling, Isabel (2006). Zen Pioneer: The Life & Works of Ruth Fuller Sasaki. Shoemaker & Hoard. p. 8. ISBN 9781593761103.
  11. ^ Deutsch, Judith E. (2008). "The Ida Rolf Method of Structural Integration". In Deutsch, Judith E. (ed.). Complementary Therapies for Physical Therapy: A Clinical Decision-Making Approach. Saunders. pp. 266–7. ISBN 0721601111.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  12. ^ a b Schultz, Richard Louis; Feitis, Rosemary (1996). The Endless Web: Fascial Anatomy and Physical Reality. North Atlantic Books. p. 33. ISBN 1556432283.
  13. ^ Baer, Hans (2004). Toward an Integrative Medicine: Merging Alternative Therapies with Biomedicine. Rowman Altamira. p. 164. ISBN 9780759103023.
  14. ^ Daniels, Rick; Nicoll, Leslie, eds. (2011). "Ch. 14: Complementary and Alternative Therapies". Contemporary Medical-Surgical Nursing. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 306. ISBN 1439058660.
  15. ^ Rolf, Ida. Reestablishing the Natural Alignment and Structural Integration of the Human Body for Vitality and Well-Being. p. 15. ISBN 0892813350.[non-primary source needed]
  16. ^ a b Carroll, Robert Todd (22 January 2014). "Rolfing". [[The Skeptic's Dictionary]] (Online ed.). ISBN 9780471272427. Retrieved 2014-03-03. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  17. ^ a b "Rolfing". The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology. Penguin. 2009. ISBN 9780141030241 – via Credo Reference.
  18. ^ a b c d e Knaster, Mirka (1996). Discovering the Body's Wisdom: A Comprehensive Guide to More Than Fifty Mind-Body Practices. Bantam. pp. 195–208. ISBN 9780307575500.
  19. ^ Considine, Austin (6 October 2010). "Rolfing, excruciatingly helpful". New York Times. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  20. ^ Cassar, Mario-Paul (2004). Handbook of Clinical Massage: A Complete Guide for Students and Practitioners (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone. pp. 48–49. ISBN 9780443073496.
  21. ^ Thackery, Ellyn; Harris, Madeline, eds. (2003). The Gale Encyclopedia Of Mental Disorders. Gale. p. 153–7. ISBN 9780787657697.
  22. ^ a b Levine, Andrew (1998). The Bodywork and Massage Sourcebook. Lowell House. pp. 209–234. ISBN 9780737300987.
  23. ^ Cordón, Luis. (2005). Popular Psychology: An Encyclopedia. Greenwood Press. p. 218. ISBN 0-313-32457-3 "According to Rolfing theory, memories of traumatic experiences are stored in various parts of the body (as "muscle memory"), blocking the free flow of "vital energy," and the proper sort of massage can release them, thus restoring the proper flow and integrating mind and body... There is no support in psychological literature for the idea of traumatic experiences becoming repressed in the form of muscle memory, and so the basic ideas of Rolfing certainly fall into the category of pseudoscience."
  24. ^ Beyerstein, Barry. (1995). Distinguishing Science from Pseudoscience. Victoria, BC: Center for Curriculum and Professional Development.
  25. ^ Agin, Dan. (2006). Junk Science: An Overdue Indictment of Government, Industry, and Faith Groups That Twist Science for Their Own Gain. St. Martin's Press. p. 114. ISBN 0-312-37480-1
  26. ^ Shapiro, Rose. (2008). Suckers: How Alternative Medicine Makes Fools of Us All. Vintage Books. p. 2. ISBN 0-09-952286-1
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