After an altercation with a snow groomer in January 2005 left me with chronic pain in my lower and middle back, left shoulder, and neck, I couldn’t find many answers. X-rays and an MRI revealed nothing. Two shoulder surgeons were baffled. My shoulder was declared ‘weak’. I was told to do yoga and physio to strengthen it. I did. The pain became excruciating. In addition to my back and neck pain, the damage to my body caused a work-related issue. I am a runway model and, after the accident, the upper half of my body barely moved when walking – not good news for a runway model!

To try and sort myself out, I started on what ended up as a two year course of chiropractic treatment. This helped. My back and neck were adjusted once a week and I would feel better. But a week later the pain was back and I’d need to go to the chiro again. I also tried combining this with a weekly massage. The masseuse was great but the muscular pain in my shoulder was sometimes acute. In the end I felt the top layers of the knots in my back were being loosened but not the deeper ones. Finally, in the spring of 2010, I gave up. I did not want to contemplate surgery, but that seemed the only option.

That is until a friend mentioned that she enrolled in a course of Rolfing. I had never heard of Rolfing, but discovered it was a popular practice in the 1970s when Dr. Ida Rolf founded the The Rolf Instituteｮ of Structural Integration. Rolfing is currently undergoing a renaissance, particularly for people who have tried everything for chronic pain and are still finding they have a persistent problem.

To better understand Rolfing, let’s first look at the problems it addresses. “Our bodies are made for dynamic movement,” explains my practitioner, Daphne Berwind-Dart of Cambridge Rolfing, “which is why sitting at a desk all day making small, repetitive motions can get us into trouble.” Rolfers™ work primarily on fascia, a malleable connective tissue. The fascia that allows our bodies to change alignment over time for better or worse according to the demands we put on them. Fascia can lock us into patterns of compensation such as tight pecs from too much computer use but it can also free us from those patterns. “Rolfers capitalize on this plasticity, manipulating the regions of fascia that have become short and distorted in order to realign joints and restore the proper length and elasticity of the tissues,” states Daphne. “The ultimate goal of Rolfing is to restore order, balance and fluidity.” The changes that Rolfing can bring about are also lasting – the average person need only check back in for tune-ups every couple of years.

Beginning my Rolfing program in September of 2010, I met with Daphne and, after discussing my needs with her, we settled on a ten-session course of treatment. The first of the sessions was all about my breath capacity. Rolfers believe that the body is not very open to healing until breathing is freed. Daphne also looked at my pelvis and began to “neutralize” it (Rolfer-speak for reducing any tilts, shifts or torques that are contributing to misalignment). The second session assessed how well my feet and legs were supporting my spine, neck and head, and in the third session she worked to establish my side or “lateral line.”

The fourth session we worked on my inner legs and thighs and, in the fifth, she balanced the tension in the soft tissues around my organs and core muscles. In the sixth course Daphne addressed my back’s deep structural problems, working on the backs of my legs, my pelvis and, of course, my back.

The seventh session involved some intense work on the cranium. The joints in the cranium are the least mobile joints but Rolfers believe they should be able to ‘breathe’ to let the cerebrospinal fluid flow freely. As Daphne warned me this was a very thorough session which included work in my mouth and nose. “This is the part where clients usually think Rolfing is pretty out there!” she mused. In the eighth session we worked on my pelvis some more and in the ninth again on my shoulders.

The tenth session was the most general. Daphne used the final sessions to reinforce the balance and proper alignment that we had worked to create in the earlier sessions and to set me up for continued integration. It’s important to stress that in each session, as when working on the individual parts, Daphne was looking at increasing adaptability and support throughout my whole body. To this end, each session began and ended with Daphne watching me walk.

People seek out Rolfing for many different reasons. Rolfing has been known to reduce scar tissue, to allow runners to run again, to help those with carpal tunnel and other Repetitive Stress Injury issues, those with old injuries, people recovering from surgery, and, on a more spiritual level, to help those who have experienced serious trauma release it from their bodies. With Daphne, clients follow an individually tailored plan according to their issues.

As for me, I have not had pain in my shoulder, neck, middle or lower back since half way through my Rolfing treatment. Daphne helped me regain the movement I had lost throughout my shoulders and spine. I’m walking more runway now than I ever have, and, apart from those crazy heels, doing it pain-free.

Despite its benefits, Rolfing does come with a stigma of being a painful therapy. I, however, never experienced much pain at all, certainly less pain than in a massage. In the past Rolfing was an aggressive practice. “In the ’60s it was a different climate: Primal Scream therapy was popular!” laughs Daphne. “Dr. Rolf was rather intense and she encouraged her students to work pretty aggressively. The whole field has evolved though since then. Practitioners today are more precise and more sensitive to the experience of the client. It’s more of a shared experience – we do the work together as opposed to I do it to my clients.” That said, Rolfing can be intense. Introducing your body to a new therapy is never easy. Our minds and bodies are wired to hold onto what we know. But most people find any intensity is temporary and the results they get are worth any temporary discomfort.

Rolfing’s emphasis on fascia and on the body’s relationship to gravity makes it quite different from chiropractic, physio and massage. It was this difference that made the difference for me. After my shoulder healed, after my back muscles strengthened, it was the fascia that needed the work. It compacted after the accident, causing the continuing pain and stiffness in my back. It was the freeing of these deep fascial restrictions that I needed to get my back… back. A pain free existence? I’ll dance to that!

“In Structural Integration, we expect to give a cycle of ten sessions. There is a reason for this. We are not dealing with local problems. We are not dealing with the kind of thing that you can say, “Well, I fixed that, that’s all.” We are dealing with an intent to make a body more secure, more adequate within the field of gravity…. This requires that muscles be balanced, and need to be balanced around a vertical line. And, when I talk about balancing muscles, I’m talking about balancing the right side against the left side. About balancing the front of the body against the back of the body, and finally, about balancing the innermost muscles against the outermost, the inside against the outside, this is the most important of those balances, and we start from the outside working in, and it takes us ten hours before we can get to the place where we can really balance the outside against the inside.” -Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D.

by Dr. Robert Schliep

http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Rolfing-for-CTS

Article from AltMD

Rolfing/Structural Integration for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a painful condition caused by pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. It develops from a repetitive stress injury (RSI) to the hand, wrist, or arm. If left untreated, the condition may require surgery to correct. Rolfing is a holistic system of bodywork that helps release the body’s connective tissue, alleviating pain and returning normal function.

When used in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome, Rolfing helps to relieve pain by reducing pressure on the nerve. Structural integration helps realign the body so that the abnormal movements aggravating carpal tunnel syndrome are reduced. In this way, Rolfing Structural Integration can provide permanent reduction of pain and prevent damage to the nerve of the wrist. Rolfing is most effective when initiated at the first signs of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

How Does Rolfing Structural Integration Work?

Rolfing is a system of bodywork developed by American Ida Rolf, Ph. D., who lived from 1896 to 1979. Rolfing uses pressure and energy to loosen the fascia, or connective tissue, of the body. The fascia is thin, strong tissue that separates muscles, covers bones, and surrounds internal organs such as the heart, lungs, and intestines. It provides a seamless, interconnected network that supports body structures. Healthy fascia is flexible. Repetitive movement, poor posture, or injury put abnormal stresses on the fascia and cause it to shorten and lose its elasticity. The goal of Rolfing is to use pressure to loosen and restore the fascia and then reshape, or structurally integrate, the body so that it is aligned in a natural way that eliminates abnormal stress during movement.

How Does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Develop?

The carpal tunnel is an anatomical feature located at the base of the palm. The bones and ligaments of the hand and wrist form a tunnel, or constriction, through which the median nerve and several tendons pass. Computer keyboarders, assembly line workers who manipulate small objects, instrumental musicians, some athletes, and other people who use their hands repetitively put abnormal stress on this area by repeating specific movements. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) can also be generated by injury or arthritis, causing the area to become internally swollen and inflamed. As inflammation narrows the tunnel and puts pressure on the nerve, pain develops, and if not corrected, permanent numbness in the first three fingers will result. About ten percent of people will experience carpal tunnel syndrome during their lifetime.

How Does Rolfing Structural Integration Help Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Rolfing structural integration helps treat carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in two ways. First, Rolfing lengthens and releases the fascia and helps to restore its flexibility. Second, once the fascia is released, the entire body is integrated in a way that returns it to its natural posture. This results in freer, less stressful movement and helps to reduce abnormal actions that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Although special attention may be paid to the shoulder, arm, wrist, and hand of clients who have carpal tunnel pain, the professional Rolfer will work on all parts of the body. This is because the fascia throughout the entire body is connected, and the body cannot be successfully integrated by concentrating only on a single area.

What Happens During a Rolfing Structural Integration Session?

Rolfing Structural Integration therapy consists of ten consecutive structured sessions lasting about an hour each and spaced a week apart. Individuals lie on a massage table. Men wear swimming trunks and women wear a two-piece bathing suit or similar clothing. Although Rolfing works with deep tissue, it is rarely painful, and any pain experienced should be transient.

The first three Rolfing sessions are called the sleeve sessions. During first session, the client completes a health questionnaire. This is followed by an evaluation of the client’s posture and body imbalances and a discussion of specific therapy goals. During the early sessions, the Rolfing professional works mainly on the superficial layers of the body. The client may be asked to breathe in specific ways or make certain movements.

Sessions four through seven are called the core sessions. These sessions involve deep tissue work. Each session focuses on a specific part of the body, beginning at the feet in session four and reaching the head and neck by session seven.

Sessions eight through ten emphasize integration. During these sessions, the Rolfer may work on the specific area most likely to be causing the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms with the goal of making movements smoother and more natural. The final session concentrates on complete integration and balancing of the body.

Following this ten-sessions regimen, the client should wait for about six months before undergoing any more Rolfing work. This allows the client to consolidate gains made through the just-completed structural integration work.

http://www.jeffcubos.com/2011/01/24/fascia-the-forgotten-tissue-top-8-highlights

Posted on the Jeff Cubos website listed above.

A guest post from my good friend and colleague, Dr. Thomas Lam of Fits Toronto

After the first talk by Robert Schleip I could have left and felt very satisfied with attending the conference. WOW. But I’m so glad I didn’t! This conference helped solidify some thoughts and completely open my eyes for a new ways of thinking. Without question there are way too many highlights to write about in a single blog post. So I’ll write about my TOP 8 Highlights. Originally I was going to post highlights of each speaker, but because there were many commonalties between the talks I’ll instead write about the major highlights echoed throughout the conference.

A special “thank you” needs to be delivered to Dr. Glen Harris (MSK Plus) and Dr. Wilbur Kelsick (Maxfit Movement Institute) for making this conference happen! I’m so happy that I attended that I’ve already sent my RSVP for the 3rd International Fascia Research Congress.

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TOP 8 highlights:

1) Our Anatomy is WRONG! Open any text book and you’ll see clearly defined muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels. Each tissue can be clearly seen. But where’s the fascia? Fascia is our tendons, ligaments, and all of our collagenous connective tissue that connect all our structures in our body into a single body. Forget about your knee bone is connected shin bone. The reality is more like your knee bone is connected to your ear!

2) You might not be stretching what you’re stretching? Based on the organization of fascia, Vleeming researched the strain transmission that occurs with a straight leg raise. Incredibly the iliotibial band and the lumbar fascia compared with strain to the hamstrings is 240% and 145% respectively. This occurs because fascia is multi-directional and a large portion of the strain that occurs during a straight leg raise is transmitted laterally. To further illustrate this check out Plantar Fascia Magic.

3) BRAIN POWER – Separate the forest from the trees. Our brain is the central processing center of our body. There are over 80,000 sensory inputs per second that enter our brain that must be processed to formulate and make fine adjustments to our movements. Note I didn’t say proper movement. Developing sound movement patterns takes time, based on deliberate training principles that address key movement qualities. This is without question the Forest. It’s the big picture that we must always address. It’s the key factor that determines injury rates and sport performance. The forest is made up of many components, but they are the details. Some details are more important than others. In this analogy fascial issues range in how they impact our ability to perform movement. Some fascial problems would be large trees, but some would be like a shrub, others could be like a blade of grass.

But never mistake that it’s how we process and develop our movements that determines injuries and performance. This concept is surprising lost. Many health care professionals focus on the details beautifully but miss the big picture – THE FOREST. We must always aim to improve our movement qualities by address the most effective and efficient detail.

4) Running Shoes and Orthotics – WOW! I really have to think about the implication shoes and orthotics have on injuries and athletic performance. Currently many people are subscribing to the concepts of Bare Foot Running, popularized by Born to Run (you gotta get this book – it’s amazing), Chi of Running, Pose Running, Vibrams and Barefoot Ted – just to name a few. I’ve known about this concept for a couple of years, but after reading Born to Run, attending this conference, and recently speaking with Dr. Larry Bell the merits of bare foot training are more salient than ever.

5) Stretching and Conditioning Fascia – Let’s get Crimped. There are many methods that need to be integrated to effectively condition our fascial system. Yoga by itself is not enough, nor is strength training. Yes strength training is important to condition your tendons and ligaments. In fact, the tendons of those that don’t strength train lose their elasticity and tensile strength properties. If you examined their tendons compared with a well trained athlete you’ll see that their tendons are straight compared to crimped. You really want crimped tendons because those have enhanced elastic properties. These properties aid in elastic recoil and you become faster and more explosive.

Stretching and flexibility have long been known to help with fascia pliability, but they are not enough. Based on the multi-directional layout of fascia (see point 2) we need not only spiral patterns to address the multi-directional layout of fascia but we need active muscular contraction combined with spiral patterns to address all fascia bands. I’ve been playing with this concept for some time with end-range oscillation techniques.

6) STRETCH ONE HOUR BEFORE COMPETITION. Research on stretching and power has made many afraid of stretching. But there may be more to add to this picture and it might change the minds of many strength and conditioning professionals about stretching. While stretching squeezes out matrix hydration, which contributes to the decrease in subsequent force production, after 1 hour we see a supercompensation of matrix hydration which enhances force and power production. This means if we stretch one hour prior to competition we’ll be in a heighted state of elasticity! Gymnasts have been utilizing this approach for years and the common ancient practice of wetting a rope repeatedly to raise an Obelisk further illustrates this power property of water and mechanical properties.

For those of you as curious as myself as to what an obelisk was 

7) We’re ANTELOPES! We have the same elastic properties as an Antelope! Elasticity is the ability to use energy. We’ve talked about this process at length in our four part series about Reactiveness and Stiffness. This ability is a huge quality we develop at FITS and its mind blowing to learn that we have the same elastic properties as an Antelope bounding in the African Saffana.

8) THE SAIL AND MAST – Mechanoreceptors in our superficial layer of fascia are our most abundant and perhaps our most sensitive prioprioceptors. I’ve been taught that our self-awareness of our bodies in space (prioprioception) is based on the integration of information from our eyes, vestibular apparatus (housed in our ears), and joint mechano-receptors. Interestingly, research has shown that joint mechano-receptors are active near to end range. But what happens in between???? It appears that mechanoreceptors in our skin are in the perfect position to serve this function. The analogy that Dr. Schleip used was a sail and mast. While the mast only moves slightly the sail is incredible sensitive to changes in the wind.

BONUS!! “Any hockey player that becomes concussed will have a hip or hernia problem” – Mark Lindsay

Thanks for reading… I look forward to exploring these concepts in more depth in the near future stay tuned.

In the meantime here are some great resources regarding fascia. This list is by no means complete.

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RESOURCES

Robert Schleip. This website is easily the most well linked site on fascia. The amount of great content about fascia is staggering. If you’re interested in learning about fascia you MUST CHECK THIS SITE OUT: http://www.somatics.de/somatics.html

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. The journal is a great resource for healthcare practitioners. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13608592

Fascia Research Project. This site highlights the amazing research being conducted out of Ulm University. http://www.fasciaresearch.com/

3rd International Fascia Research Congress. http://www.fasciacongress.org/2012/

Stretch to win. I really like this technique. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ann and Chris Frederick and they’re amazing. This is a great approach that integrates many proprioceptive neuromuscular techniques from all around the world. http://www.stretchtowin.com/

Rolfing. While I don’t understand too much about Rolfing I’ve met some great Rolfers who have really changed my thinking so I believe there is a lot to learn from them and their techniques. http://www.rolfing.org/

Carrick Institute for Clinical Neurology. I know of three great health care practitioners (Dr. Mark Linsay and Sam Gibbs) that are enrolled in this program and I’m most likely going to enrol shortly. http://www.carrickinstitute.org/

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Thanks, Dr. Lam!

Related posts:

1. Fascia: The Forgotten Tissue January 15-16, 2010…
2. Motor Learning and Neuroplasticity in Rehabiliation Summarizing the benefits of motor-skill training in musculoskeletal rehabilitation….

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Tagged with: Barefoot Running • fascia • Robert Schleip • Vibram Five Fingers