Rolfing & Research
Scientific research confirms the effectiveness of Rolfing structural integration. Summaries of a few key studies follow:
In her 1963 study, “Project Breakthrough”, Ida Rolf found that children who had received Rolfing work exhibited better muscle tone, better alignment, and improved social responsiveness.

Dr. Valerie D. Hunt and Dr. Wayne W. Massey of the UCLA Department of Kinesiology completed a five-year controlled study in 1977, entitled, “A study of structural integration fromneuromuscular, energy field and emotional approaches”.

They found that subjects who had received Rolfing exhibited:
1. Smoother, larger, and less constrained extraneous movements
2. Greater movement efficiency and improved neuromuscular balance
3. More dynamic and energetic body movements, with less fatigue
4. A more erect carriage with less obvious strain to maintain held positions
5. Increased emotional calmness, a greater sense of well being, and decreased anxiety.

More recent research findings include the positive effects of Rolfing on the autonomic nervous system (published in The Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, Mar. 1988) and benefits of Rolfing for chronic back pain (The Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, Sept.1997).
Abstracts for many of these papers may be purchased directly from the Rolf Institute (800.530.8875).

Studies
Integrating Manual and Movement Therapy with Philosophical Counseling for Treatment of a Patient with Amyptrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A case study that explores the principles of holistic intervention. J. Cottingham, M.S., P.T. & J. Maitland, Ph.D.,

Alternative Therapies In Health and Medicine, Winter/Spring 2000.

A Three-Paradigm Treatment Model Using Soft Tissue Mobilization and Guided Movement-Awareness Techniques for Patients with Chronic Back Pain: A case study. J. Cottingham & J. Maitland, The Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, Vol.26, No.3, Sept.1997.

Effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization on Pelvic Inclination Angle, Lumbar Lordosis, and Parasympathetic Tone: Implications for treatment of disabilities associated with lumbar degenerative joint disease. Cottingham JT. Public testimony presentation to the National Center of Medical Rehabilitation Research of the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD; March 19, 1992. Rolf Lines, 20 (2): 42-45, 1992.

Biomechanical Structuring for Figure Skating: Preliminary pilot study report for the U.S. Figure Skating Association. Helen James, Katharine Robertson, & Neal Powers, Olympic Training Center Camp, CO, 1988.

Shifts in Pelvic Inclination Angle and Parasympathetic Tone Produced by Rolfing Soft Tissue Manipulation. J. Cottingham, Frances Nelson Health Center, Illinois. The Journal of American Physical Therapy Association, Vol. 68, 1364-1370, 1988.

Effects of Soft Tissue Mobilization on Parasympathetic Tone in Two Age Groups. J. Cottingham, Frances Nelson Health Center, Illinois, 1987. The Journal of American Physical Therapy Association, Vol. 68, 352-356, 1988.

Children With Cerebral Palsy. Cindy Potter, 1986.

Functional Evaluation of Rolfing in Cerebral Palsy. Perry, Jones & Thomas. Developmental Med. Child. Neurol., 1981, 23.

Electromyographic Evaluation of Structural Integration Techniques. V. Hunt & W. Massey, UCLA. Psychoenergetic Systems, Gordon & BreachScience Pub., U.K., 1977.

Effects of Structural Integration on Strait-Trait Anxiety. R. Wagner & V. Hunt, UCLA, 1976. Journal of Clinical Psychology, Vol. 35, No.2, April 1979.

Stress, Stimulus Intensity Control, and the Structural Integration Technique. Silverman, Rappaport & Hopkins. Confinia Psychiatrica, Karger Publisher,Switzerland, 1973.

Structural Integration, I.P. Rolf, Rockefeller Institute, N.Y., 1918 – 1927.