Who gets rolfed?

People of all ages come to Rolfing® for help with neck pain, back problems, impaired mobility and other difficulties, which originate with internal strains. Others seek to improve their appearance, to improve athletic performance, and to enhance personal growth toward a fuller realization of their potential.

  • People suffering from aches or pains in areas such as the neck, shoulders, hips, back, arms, legs etc.
  • People, in physically demanding jobs, who feel pain, are stressed, tense and stiff.
  • People suffering from the effects of injuries and accidents.
  • People with poor posture, who want to improve their appearance.
  • Physically active people e.g. artists, athletes, dancers, students of Yoga and meditation, musicians who wish to improve their performance and reduce the risk of injury.
  • People who lack energy/vitality, who live and work below their inherent potential.

Testimonials

Many professional and Olympic athletes have found that Rolfing enhances performance and reduces recovery time for sport related injuries. Among the many professional sports figures who have benefited from Rolfing:

  • 1998 US Paralympic Gold Medal Skier, Sarah Will, credits her gold medal to Rolfing. She says, "Rolfing increased my performance time 100%."
  • Dr. Ronald Tarrel, D.O., a neurologist, at the Noran Neurological Clinic in Minneaplois says, "I refer my patients to Certified Advanced Rolfer, Wayne Henningsgaard and have 80-85% success rate. Patients who may be surgical candidates or others that have had surgery for neck and back injuries." The Minneapolis Star Tribune says, " Dr. David Tubman, an interventional neuroradiologist at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, believes that periodic sessions at (Certified Rolfer, Gray) Kimbrell's office relieve the aches and pains from his years of hunching over an operating table." 1/29/02 2002
  • US Olympic Nordic Ski team member and World Champion skier, Wendy Wagner says, "There is a lot to be gained in performance by being Rolfed, and aligned. It allows you to utilize your body to a greater capacity. In training, I get banged around, things get out of whack, and it is easy to get tension in the muscles. Massage and stretching help, but you have to keep going back to loosen the tension. Rolfing changes things more long term, structurally and I'd recommend using it on a regular basis.
  • The Journal of Othopedic & Sports Physical Therapy published a Chronic Lower Back Pain case study by Certified Rolfer and physical therapist, John Cottingham, in 1997. The report says that effective sustained pain relief from chronic back problems can be provided with alternative treatment protocols that go beyond the conventional corrective techniques of physical therapy.
  • John Bauer, 2002 Olympic Nordic Ski Team, '92 & '98 Olympic Nordic Skier, and elite world class racer, U.S. Nordic Ski Team member and student Rolfer, says, "The skilled hands of a Rolfer should be on every athletic team. I have had higher results in the last ski season based on measure of my percentage back and racetimes, so I can see improved performance. Rolfing is a potent edge to better athletic performance."
  • Sharon Sander, ranked #2 on the US Pentathlon team, who was headed to the World Championships in June 2000 and preparing for the Olympics, says it all couldn't have happened without Rolfing® structural integration. "Rolfing® was the one thing missing in my training regime, and it has helped me a lot. It is amazing, since I received Rolfing I don't get injured as often. I recommend Rolfing for any athlete who has ever had trouble with injuries or doesn't feel like they are reaching their potential," says Sander.
  • Kristen Ulmer, is a former World Champion Extreme Skier and US Freestyle Ski team mogul specialist. She has been revered as the "best female Extreme skier" for the past 8-9 years. Ulmer had a series of knee surgeries as a result of injuries and tendonitis in the past few years. She said, "After surgery I had excruciating pain and could not drive or walk." Rolfing bodywork brought her hips and ankles back into alignment, and the pain disappeared. "It healed so fast I can't believe it!" says Kristen. "The expected 6 month recovery time was cut in half and 3 months after surgery I was trekking to Cho Oyu on a Himalayan ski expedition."
  • Jeff Linder, a "Race Across America" (RAAM) competitive cyclist. His team, a Masters squad in the 50+ age group, featured four riders plus Linder, as a substitute. Sharply focused on winning he arrived in shape for the race by teaming up with Certified Rolfer®, Matt Spencer, an expert on the Rolfing approach to enhance athletic performance.
  • Olympic MD, Dr. Karlis Ullis, at the Sports Medicine and Anti-Aging Medical Group in Santa Monica, CA. says, "Athletes always need help with chronic injuries, muscular strains and overuse. The Olympic athletes wouldn't have as many injuries if they had appropriate soft tissue therapy. Rolfing is valuable for athletes in high level competition to address the build up of scar tissue and disarrangement of myofascial tissue that occurs from training, competition and injury."
  • Rolfing can assist with trauma or injury to the body. "Jeff Jehrke is a believer. He was sitting in his car in a parking lot in Spokane, WA., five years ago, when another car rear-ended him going 65 miles per hour. The lingering pain after the accident was enough to make him cringe as he got out of bed every morning, but the depression and chronic anxiety were the worst part, he says..."You couldn't touch me without my back tensing up." He never went to a psychotherapist, but 2 years ago he made a Rolfing appointment...After a few sessions (with the Rolfer) Jehrke lost both the discomfort and anxiety." Boulder Daily Camera, October 15, 2000.
  • Good Morning America, People Magazine, Dateline and the New York Times have reported that Rolfing® structural integration enabled Leon Fleisher, a Peabody virtuoso concert pianist to make a 30 year comeback from a repetitive stress syndrome. "When a crippling hand injury ended his performing career, Peabody pianist, Leon Fleisher went down a different musical road. Thirty years later, he's turned up an unexpected corner (when he met Certified Advanced Rolfer, Tessy Brunghardt)...The (Rolfing) results were remarkable." John Hopkins magazine, 1995.