Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGoalTechniquesDrawbacksFinding Certified Rolfers
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Goal
Techniques
Drawbacks
Finding Certified Rolfers
Rolfing Structural Integration (Rolfingfor short) is a type of hands-on bodywork that targetsfascia(connective tissue) throughout the body.The Rolfing technique uses sensations to activate the nervous system, which then tells the muscles to relax. It is used to help decrease pain, improve posture, and make moving the body easier.
This article discusses Rolfing—what it is, what it helps, how it differs from massage, potential drawbacks, and how to find a practitioner.
Daniel de la Hoz / Getty Images
What Is Fascia?Fascia is connective tissue that can be found throughout the body. Its function is to hold other structures—organs, nerves, blood vessels, bones, muscles—in the proper place.Fascia also connects the skin to the structures beneath it.
What Is Fascia?
Fascia is connective tissue that can be found throughout the body. Its function is to hold other structures—organs, nerves, blood vessels, bones, muscles—in the proper place.Fascia also connects the skin to the structures beneath it.
Goal of Rolfing Massage Therapy
Conditions Treated and People Who Could Benefit
According to the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute, Rolfing can benefit people from “all walks of life, with different skills and journeys,” including children and infants.
Rolfing has been reported to help in the following ways:
According to biochemist Ida Rolf, the founder of Rolfing, areas of the body that have been injured are also emotionally charged.As a result, Rolfing can help bring emotional pain and negative memories to the surface to help the individual process them, leading to emotional harmony.
Rolfing Massage Techniques
According to the Dr. Rolf Institute, Rolfing isnota form of massage.Rolfing involves these three steps:
Rolfing is often provided in a set of 10 sessions called the Ten-Series.Each session focuses on a specific body area.
Sessions one through three are called “sleeve sessions” and aim to loosen and balance the superficial layers of connective tissue. Sessions four through seven are called “core sessions” and focus on the bottom of the pelvis to the top of the head.
Sessions eight through ten are “integration sessions,” blending the work of the previous sessions to improve the body’s movement as a whole.
Rolfing vs. Physical Therapy and Regular Massage
While Rolfing is a type of tissue manipulation, it differs from physical therapy and massage.
While physical therapists sometimes performsoft tissue massage, it is only one of manyhands-on techniquesthese healthcare professionals use. Physical therapists use a variety of othertreatment interventions, such as:
Massage therapists use various techniques to help reduce tension, improve circulation and flexibility, and promote relaxation.
Examples of massage therapy techniques include:
Rolfing vs. Myofascial ReleaseWhile Rolfing and myofascial release target the fascia, they are not the same. Rolfing focuses on treating fascia restrictions throughout the body to bring it back into alignment. Myofascial release treats conditions affecting fascia in a specific body part, such as the low back.
Rolfing vs. Myofascial Release
While Rolfing and myofascial release target the fascia, they are not the same. Rolfing focuses on treating fascia restrictions throughout the body to bring it back into alignment. Myofascial release treats conditions affecting fascia in a specific body part, such as the low back.
Rolfing Drawbacks
While Rolfing has many reported potential benefits, there can be some drawbacks, including:
Does Insurance Cover Rolfing?
How to Find Certified Rolfing Therapists
Practitioners who refer to themselves as Rolfers are certified graduates of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.You can find a certified Rolfer in thedirectoryon the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute website or use theirsearch toolto verify practitioners.
Summary
Rolfing is a type of hands-on bodywork that targets the fascia—connective tissue throughout the body that holds other structures in place. Restrictions in the fascia can lead to chronic pain, poor posture, and difficulty moving the body. The primary goal of Rolfing is to release tension in the fascia throughout the body and bring it back into alignment, allowing the body to move more freely.
There can be drawbacks of this type of treatment. Rolfing can be uncomfortable, and it sometimes brings up repressed emotions or memories of past trauma. Sessions can be expensive.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.What is Rolfing?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Muscle pain: it may actually be your fascia.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Rolfing FAQ.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Ten series.American Physical Therapy Association.About PT and PTA licensure.American Physical Therapy Association.Becoming a physical therapist.American Massage Therapy Association.Credentials for the massage therapy profession.National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health.Massage therapy: what you need to know.American Institute of Alternative Medicine.7 types of massage therapy and their benefits.Wu Z, Wang Y, Ye X, et al.Myofascial release for chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Med. 2021;8:697986. doi:10.3389%2Ffmed.2021.697986National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Paying for complementary and integrative health approaches.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Verify a Rolfer.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.What is Rolfing?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Muscle pain: it may actually be your fascia.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Rolfing FAQ.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Ten series.American Physical Therapy Association.About PT and PTA licensure.American Physical Therapy Association.Becoming a physical therapist.American Massage Therapy Association.Credentials for the massage therapy profession.National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health.Massage therapy: what you need to know.American Institute of Alternative Medicine.7 types of massage therapy and their benefits.Wu Z, Wang Y, Ye X, et al.Myofascial release for chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Med. 2021;8:697986. doi:10.3389%2Ffmed.2021.697986National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Paying for complementary and integrative health approaches.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Verify a Rolfer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.What is Rolfing?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Muscle pain: it may actually be your fascia.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Rolfing FAQ.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Ten series.American Physical Therapy Association.About PT and PTA licensure.American Physical Therapy Association.Becoming a physical therapist.American Massage Therapy Association.Credentials for the massage therapy profession.National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health.Massage therapy: what you need to know.American Institute of Alternative Medicine.7 types of massage therapy and their benefits.Wu Z, Wang Y, Ye X, et al.Myofascial release for chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Med. 2021;8:697986. doi:10.3389%2Ffmed.2021.697986National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Paying for complementary and integrative health approaches.Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Verify a Rolfer.
Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.What is Rolfing?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Muscle pain: it may actually be your fascia.
Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Rolfing FAQ.
Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Ten series.
American Physical Therapy Association.About PT and PTA licensure.
American Physical Therapy Association.Becoming a physical therapist.
American Massage Therapy Association.Credentials for the massage therapy profession.
National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health.Massage therapy: what you need to know.
American Institute of Alternative Medicine.7 types of massage therapy and their benefits.
Wu Z, Wang Y, Ye X, et al.Myofascial release for chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Med. 2021;8:697986. doi:10.3389%2Ffmed.2021.697986
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Paying for complementary and integrative health approaches.
Dr. Ida Rolf Institute.Verify a Rolfer.
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