Rolfing, or Structural Integration, is a hands on therapy dedicated to realigning the bodies soft tissue structures which include muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, and fascia. The loss of structural integrity makes individuals inflexible, inefficient and subject to chronic pain in areas that have lost optimal functionality as a result of internal pressures and restrictions. Once a body becomes misaligned, the body is exposed by gravitational forces and requires more muscle effort to work properly. Understanding that the whole body adjusts or compensates for misalignments, injuries, uneven use, and asymmetrical activities is crucial to understanding how injuries and chronic pain occur.
Using balance and stability based diagnostic tests Paul Matthews, Chicago Chiropractic & Sports Medicine certified Rolfer and Rehabilitation Specialist, can determine where a patient has developed joint instability, weakness, lost range of motion, and caused muscle imbalances. Once Paul determines the root of the problem, he can effectively create a treatment protocol to address the soft issue structures effecting any misalignments. The prescribed treatment includes in-office treatments to release any scar tissue adhesions, as well as a functional rehabilitation program. This program includes working with patients to reinforce and stabilize proper alignment with effective biomechanical movement therapy and functional rehabilitation exercises.
The 3 Most Likely Reasons to visit a certified Rolfer:
- Performance enhancement
- Injury prevention
- Recovery from an injury or surgery
Soft tissue injuries often develop into nagging or chronic conditions that can lead to decreased performance and perpetuate compensational patterns. Most chronic conditions can be traced back to Scar Tissue, a fibrous connective tissue that forms to heal and immobilize damaged soft tissues. It forms on any tissue in the body where an injury, trauma, disease, or surgical incisions have taken place. Thicker than the surrounding tissue, scar tissue is paler and denser because it has a limited blood supply. Although it takes the place of damaged or destroyed tissue, it is limited in function including movement, circulation, and sensation. Rolfing treatments can quickly and effectively breakdown scar tissue adhesions, as well as it provides a mechanism for aligning the overall body to prevent further scar tissue build-up. The final result is that the body can optimally perform the way it was intended to.
