What is the difference between Rolfing® Structural Integration and Massage Therapy?

The main difference between Rolfing Structural Integration and therapeutic massage can be found in the goals and focuses of each modality.

The goals of massage therapy are to promote blood flow and facilitate the elimination of toxins from the body, decrease muscle spasm and pain, reduce soreness related to injury and stress, and promote a general sense of well being. The focus of massage therapy is the musculoskeletal system of the body.

The goal of Rolfing Structural Integration is to improve body posture, alignment, flexibility and movement. It’s focus is the ‘myo-fascial’ structure of the body. This structure supports the skeleton and soft tissues, positions the bones, determines the direction of muscle pull and movement, and gives the body its shape. Fascia (also called connective tissue) is a thin, elastic, semifluid membrane that envelopes every muscle, bone, blood vessel, nerve and organ. It plays an integral role in maintaining posture and proper movement. Dr. Ida Rolf defined fascia as the organ of change, and stated that injury, chronic pain and stress, or other trauma can lead to it’s deterioration. When fascia becomes increasingly more solid, rigid and sticky, it begins to restrict the movement of muscles and joints.

Rolfing is based on the idea that human function is improved when the segments of the body (head, torso, pelvis, legs, feet) are properly aligned in the gravitational field. When the body is out of alignment, many muscles remain overly contracted and stressed. After maintaining out-of-balance postures for months and even years, the fascial tissues of the body must compensate to hold everything in this out-of-balance position. Movement becomes impaired, and this can contribute to reduction of mental clarity, increased pain and tightness in this soft-tissue network, and increased emotional stress.

The combination of hands-on applied pressure by the Rolf practitioner, and synchronized movements by the client, frees restricted tissue. This allows the body segments to realign and return to a balanced relationship, in both the resting state and in movement. Another technique that may be used in Rolfing sessions by practitioners cross-trained in Rolfing Movement Integration is re-education of the body’s movement patterns. The Movement teacher works to guide the client in replacing binding tension patterns with free and well-integrated movement. Rolfing Movement Integration can be a powerful aid to the structural manipulation work.

The results of Rolfing are cumulative, and each session builds upon the results from the previous one.