Summary: Rolfing Structural Integration Treatment of Cervical Spine Dysfunction

Background and aims

In order to test the hypothesis that Rolfing Structural Integration improves neck flexibility and pain, a team convened by Thomas Findley analyzed records that Helen James, a physical therapist, professor of physical therapy, and Rolfer® with advanced certification had created in the course of her clinical practice.
Before this study, there had not been any published research involving such a large group of people receiving Structural Integration treatment, even though anecdotal reports of such benefits had appeared for many years.

Methods

Records on neck range of motion and pain pre- and post-treatment were selected for 31 individuals who complained of neck tension and pain, each of whom had completed a Ten Series of Rolfing® Structural Integration during the period mid-2002 to mid-2005.
The group included 6 men and 25 women between the ages of 22 and 66 with 15 younger than and 16 older than 52 years.
Researchers measured how far participants could move their necks in different directions before and after treatment, using a standardized method that was well-established in physical therapy research.
Participants also rated their pain-at-best, pain-at-worst and pain-now on a 0–10 scale.

Statistical analysis

Researchers used a common scientific method called ANOVA to compare participants’ results before and after treatment.
This method helps determine whether improvements are likely due to the treatment rather than chance.

Results

Overall, participants showed improvements in both pain levels and neck movement after treatment.
The improvements were considered statistically significant, meaning researchers were confident the changes were real and not random.
Results varied somewhat by age group.
Older participants mainly showed improvement in their lowest pain levels.
Younger participants mainly showed improvement in turning their neck to the right.

Conclusions

The authors concluded that Rolfing® Structural Integration may decrease neck pain and improve range of motion in adult subjects who complain of neck pain and tension when treated by a physical therapist with advanced Rolfing® certification.
They also stated that more research with larger groups of similar subjects and more practitioners is needed to confirm these findings.

Rolfing® is a registered service mark of The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration®, Boulder, CO.

Read the abstract: Rolfing Structural Integration Treatment of Cervical Spine Dysfunction