Board and Staff - Ida P. Rolf Research Foundation

FOUNDATION

Leadership

ERIC JACOBSON, President

PhD, MPH investigates alternative medicine and teaches medical anthropology at Harvard Medical School. In 2015 he completed an NIH funded clinical trial of Structural Integration as an adjunct to outpatient rehabilitation for chronic low back pain. Prior to that Eric worked on studies of the placebo effect and diagnostic reasoning in acupuncture. He is on the Research Committee of the Dr Rolf Institute of Structural Integration^®, and the Structural Integration committee for the first International Consortium on Manual Therapies scheduled for May 2022. Coming from a prior practice of individual and group psychotherapy, Eric was trained by Ida Rolf in 1974 and has had a practice of Structural Integration in the Boston area since then.

Related Publications

Alanazi MS, Degenhardt B, Franklin G, Jacobson E, Fritz S, Kettner, Kremen V, Lipke L, Reed WR. Autonomic nervous system and viscera-related responses to manual therapy: a narrative overview. September 2024. Internat J Osteopath Med. 54(1453-59):100735. doi:10.1061/j.ijosm.2024.100735. Epub 12 Sep.
Degenhardt B, van Dun PLS, Jacobson E, Friz S, Mettler P, Kettner N, Franklin G, Hensel K, Lesondak D, Consorti G, Frank L, Reed WR, MacDonald C, Kremen V, Martin C, Landels B, Standley P. Profession-based manual therapy nomenclature: exploring history, limitations, and opportunities. J Man Manip Therapy. 2023 Dec; doi: 10.1080/10669817.2023.2288495
Gonzalez A, Driscoll M, Schleip R, Wearing S, Jacobson E, Findley T, Klinger W. Frontiers in fascia research. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018 Oct;22(4):873-880 doi: 10.1016/jbmt.2018.09.077 PMID: 30368329
Jacobson, E, Meleger AL, Bonato P, Wayne PM, Langevin HM, Kaptchuk TJ, Davis RB. Structural Integration as an adjunct to outpatient rehabilitation for chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomized pilot clinical trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015, 2015:813418. doi.org/10.1155/2015/813418 PMID: 25945112
Jacobson, E. Structural Integration, an alternative method of manual therapy and sensorimotor education. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Oct;17(10):891-9. doi: 101089/acm.2010.0258. PMID 21992437 PMCID: PMC3198617
Jacobson, E. Structural Integration: origin and development. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Sep;17(9):775-80 doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0001 PMCID: PMD3162380; PMID: 21875349

ROBERT SCHLEIP, Vice President

Ph.D, is Research Director of the European Rolfing Association and Director of the Fascia Research Group at the Technical University of Munich. His research on the active contractile properties of fascia was honored with the Vladimir Janda Award for Musculoskeletal Medicine in 2005. Robert has been a driving force behind the international Fascia Research Congress series, and the annual conference series Connective Tissues in Sports Medicine. He has been a professional bodyworker since 1978 and is a faculty member of the Dr Rolf Institute of Structural Integration^®, a Feldenkrais teacher, and the author of several books and journal publications.

Related Publications

Brandl A, Egner C, Reer R, Schmidt T, Schleip R. Immediate Effects of Myofascial Release Treatment on Lumbar Microcirculation: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Clin Med 2023, 12(4), 1248, doi:10.3390/jcm12041248
Brandl A, Bartsch K, James H, Miller M, Schleip R. Influence of Rolfing Structural Integration on Active Range of Motion: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Clin Med 2022, 11, 5878, doi:10.3390/jcm11195878
Grzegorz Jędrzejewski , Martyna Kasper-Jędrzejewska , Paweł Dolibog , Renata Szyguła , Robert Schleip, Tomasz Halski. The Rolf Method of Structural Integration on Fascial Tissue Stiffness, Elasticity, and Superficial Blood Perfusion in Healthy Individuals: The Prospective, Interventional Study. Front Physiol. 2020 Sep 15;11:1062. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.01062. eCollection 2020.
Martyna Kasper-Jędrzejewska , Grzegorz Jędrzejewski, Lucyna Ptaszkowska, Kuba Ptaszkowski, Robert Schleip , Tomasz Halski. The Rolf Method of Structural Integration and Pelvic Floor Muscle Facilitation: Preliminary Results of a Randomized, Interventional Study. J Clin Med. 2020 Dec 9;9(12):3981. doi: 10.3390/jcm9123981.
Andreas Brandl , Katja Bartsch , Helen James, Marilyn E Miller, Robert Schleip.Influence of Rolfing Structural Integration on Active Range of Motion: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Clin Med. 2022 Oct 5;11(19):5878. doi: 10.3390/jcm11195878.
Gonzalez A, Driscoll M, Schleip R, Wearing S, Jacobson E, Findley T, Klinger W. Frontiers in fascia research. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018 Oct;22(4):873-880 doi: 10.1016/jbmt.2018.09.077 PMID: 30368329

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LIBBY EASON, Treasurer

Is a Certified Advanced Rolfer™, Rolf Movement^® Practitioner and a current faculty member of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute^®.. She served as president of the Ida P. Rolf Research Foundation from 2012 to 2019, and is past president of the International Association of Structural Integrators^®, serving on its board of directors for 10 years. She practices and teaches Structural Integration in Atlanta, Georgia.

JOHANNES FREIBERG, Director

MA, conducts research on fascia and aging at Universidad Sao Judas Tadeu in Sao Paolo, Brazil. From 2007 to the present he has been a competitor and then coach of both local and Brazilian national karate teams. Johannes is a graduate of the Dr. Rolf Institute of Structural Integration®, is on the faculty of the Brazilian Rolfing Association, and has a clinical practice of Structural Integration, Rolf Movement. and Fascial Fitness.

Related Publications

Freiberg-Neto, Johannes Carl. Telesupervision effect of a fascial stretching program on physical performance and quality of life in elderly: blinded randomized clinical trial. 2023, Master’s Dissertation, Universidade Sao Judas Tadeu, São Paulo, Brazil.

GRZEGORZ JEDRZEJEWSKI, Director

PhD, teaches and conducts research in the Health Sciences Department, Opole University in Poland. He is a member of the European Guild for Structural Integration, the International Association of Structural Integrators, the Polish Association of Structural Integration, and the Fascia Research Group. Grzegorz has conducted funded research on the physical and psychological efects of Structural Integration, including projects that examine its effects on the physology of pelivic floor and foot disorders. Trained in a wide variety of manual therapy techniques Grzegorz maintains a private practice of Structural Integration.

Related Publications

Mroczek A, Kasper-Jędrzejewska M. Deep Tissue Massage and Flexibility in the Structural Components of the Superficial Back Line of Professional Volleyball Players: A Pilot Study. Med Sci Pulse. 20 wrzesień 2019;13:1–6.
Jędrzejewski G, Kasper-Jędrzejewska M, Dolibog P, Szyguła R, Schleip R, Halski T. The Rolf Method of Structural Integration on Fascial Tissue Stiffness, Elasticity, and Superficial Blood Perfusion in Healthy Individuals: The Prospective, Interventional Study. Front Physiol. 15 wrzesień 2020;11:1062.
Kasper-Jędrzejewska M, Jędrzejewski G, Ptaszkowska L, Ptaszkowski K, Schleip R, Halski T. The Rolf Method of Structural Integration and Pelvic Floor Muscle Facilitation: Preliminary Results of a Randomized, Interventional Study. J Clin Med. 9 grudzień 2020;9(12):3981.

KOFFI KRAGBA, Director

Initially trained as a sport scientist at the National Institute of Sport Expertise and Performance (INSEP) in France, Koffi has been occupying various roles in the field of sports performance since 2010 (athletic trainer, head of performance, project manager). In addition he has been working as a Certified Rolfer® since 2018, in Murcia, Spain. One of his research interests is on the decision-making process, especially in the field of health care and manual therapies.

VACLAV KREMEN, Director

M.Sc.Eng, Ph.D. is an associate professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Czech Technical University. He is a graduate of the European Rolfing Association and formerly had a private practice in Prague. Vaclav currently lives in Rochester, Minnesota where he is assistant professor at the Neurology Department of the Mayo Clinic. He is chairperson of the Research Committee of the Dr. Rolf Institute of Structural Integration^® and a member of the Structural Integration committee of the first International Consortium on Manual Therapies scheduled for May 2022.

Related Publications

Alanazi MS, Degenhardt B, Franklin G, Jacobson E, Fritz S, Kettner, Kremen V, Lipke L, Reed WR. Autonomic nervous system and viscera-related responses to manual therapy: a narrative overview. September 2024. Internat J Osteopath Med. 54(1453-59):100735. doi:10.1061/j.ijosm.2024.100735. Epub 12 Sep.
Degenhardt B, van Dun PLS, Jacobson E, Friz S, Mettler P, Kettner N, Franklin G, Hensel K, Lesondak D, Consorti G, Frank L, Reed WR, MacDonald C, Kremen V, Martin C, Landels B, Standley P. Profession-based manual therapy nomenclature: exploring history, limitations, and opportunities. J Man Manip Therapy. 2023 Dec; doi: 10.1080/10669817.2023.2288495

PEDRO PRADO, Director

PhD, is a clinical psychologist and a former professor of Somatic Psychology. He is an Advanced Rolfing and Movement Instructor on the faculty of the Dr. Rolf Institute of Structural Integration^® and a Somatic Experiencing Instructor for the Foundation of Human Enrichment. Pedro is currently exploring the psychobiological dimensions of Structural Integration in practice, teaching and research in Sao Paulo. Brazil.

CIRSTEN VERLEGER, Director

MD, is a Certified Advanced Rolfer® and Rolf Movement™ Practitioner and a teacher of the F.M. Alexander Technique. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the European Rolfing Association, where she is engaged in Structural Integration research. She has a background in sports medicine, clinical research, medical writing and translations, and has a private Structural Integration practice in Dortmund, Germany.

FOUNDATION

Administration

IAN JORGENSEN, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Is a mental/emotional/spiritual/physical mover. Ian (any pronoun) works with fellow humans to help them develop joyful movement, body love, emotional freedom and self-realization. Ian has sometimes been called or self-applied the labels: white, queer, dancer, neurodivergent, body nerd, man and woman (among many others). He balances his bodymind/spiritual work with artistic endeavors. Throughout his adult life he has supported non-profit organizations through administrative work.

SHARON COOPER, WEBMASTER

Worked for an IT consulting firm as a Senior Software Consultant from 1991 through 2001. In this position, she primarily did software design and development for Mobil Oil. In 2001 she resigned with the goal to work primarily with nonprofits in order to do more meaningful work. She completed a Certified Internet Webmaster course and received a Web Specialist certification in 2001, starting her own business WebSites 1-2-3 providing website development and maintenance services. She has worked with the Ida P. Rolf Research Foundation since their inception in 2007.