Overcoming Neck Pain

« Back to Home

4 Health Benefits Of Rolfing

Posted on

Unlike traditional deep tissue massages, Rolfing is soft tissue manipulation that is beneficial for your body posture and structure through manipulation of the connective tissues (myofascial system). Each soft tissue manipulation session is meant to increase the efficient use of your muscle. While most massage techniques focus on relaxing and soothing muscles, Rolfing is used to fix deeper causes of discomfort, improve posture, reduce stress and relieve chronic pain.

Rolfing is commonly mistaken as a form of traditional deep tissue massage. While it does involve manipulating the soft tissue, it also is designed to balance your body in gravity by improving your body's physical balance. Some of the health benefits of Rolfing include:

1. Improves athletic ability

Rolfing may help athletes improve their physical ability by improving their posture, relaxing areas of tension, lengthening constricted muscle fibers and improving ease of motion. By helping your muscle operate more efficiently, there is improvement in your body's ability to conserve energy and develop refined patterns of movement.

2. Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) relief

TMJ is an inflammation and tightness of the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. Rolfing helps to relieve TMJ by releasing the joint between your jaw and skull from its painful and restricted state, so you jaw can be relaxed and properly aligned.

3. Reduces chronic back pain

One of the most common causes of chronic back pain is stress and tension in your back, neck and shoulders. Rolfing helps to loosen the fascia (soft tissue component of the body's connective tissue system) and free up your muscle movements and break bad patterns of muscle misuse and strain. Once released, your back will properly align itself and the back pain should be relieved.

4, Improves posture and spine health

Rolfing can be an extremely beneficial treatment for those with posture problems, such as curvature of the spine or lumbar lordosis. It can help to improve your overall muscular-skeletal balance and alignment as well as improve the parasympathetic nervous system.

In order to obtain optimum results, Rolfing typically consists of ten sessions with each session aimed at a specific area. It is thought to be safe for most people; however, it is important to discuss any medical conditions, such as a blood-clotting issue, with your practitioner. In most situations, some soreness can be expected after a session, but it is typically mild and soothed with basic heat and ice treatment. If you experience extreme pain during or after your Rolfing sessions, you should address the issue with a practitioner like those at The Healing Center as soon as possible.


Share