• Rolfing Back In Vogue, But With Shaky Evidence

• NY Times Article

Getting In Deep

by Kathy Ceceri

Times Union, June 17, 2009

Opera singer Kara Cornell is skinny and athletic – and though many people may envy that, it was hurting her singing. Cornell, who teaches at Russell Sage College and has appeared with Albany Pro Musica, the Octavo Singers in Schenectady and other local groups, knew she was limited in her ability to perform and suffered from upper body pain, but didn’t know how to take care of it. Her muscular core made her torso tight and constricted her ribcage, “where the power in your voice comes from,” she says.

And there was another problem dating back to her days practicing with the pitching machine in her family’s basement when she played high school softball. “When I was singing high notes, I would twist my head to the left,” she says. “I realized I was getting ready to swing.”

Eventually Cornell reached the point where it was time to seek help. “I’m only 28. I’m too young to feel like this,” she says.

So, on the advice of a fellow singer, she tried rolfing. Cornell signed up for 10 sessions with rolfer Moira Mills, who is certified by the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration in Colorado. After the first session, which focused on the feet, she could feel the difference when climbing stairs. Within a few sessions, Cornell says her husband told her that her singing was ten times better. He’s even noticed a difference in her gait. “My husband says I don’t walk like a duck anymore,” she reports with a laugh.

Mills, who works in Albany and Saratoga Springs, says that rolfing (also known as structural integration), looks at the body as a system. “What sets rolfing apart,” she explains, “is that it looks at how different elements of the system interact. Even though the shoulders hurt, that may not be where the problem is. I work with a lot of athletes who have problems with the shoulders, hips, arms and ankles. If they have something that’s going on in the lower leg, that could be creating a problem in the neck and shoulders. If the toes are pointed out, that’s going to have an effect on the pelvis.”

Although rolfing is sometimes compared to massage,

it doesn’t work on the muscles. Instead, rolfing focuses on the fascia, the body’s connective tissue. The fascia is a protective layer that surrounds the muscles, bones and organs and gives them shape and structure. Nick Pavoldi, owner of Bodywork Professionals in Latham, who received his training through The Guild for Structural Integration in Hawaii, compares it to the casing on a sausage. The goal is to loosen the fascia so the body has a sense of space. “It’s like putting on more comfortable clothing,” Pavoldi says. While Mills works mainly with athletes, most of the people Pavoldi sees are over 40, and many have tried other alternative treatments like massage without relief. “They’re ready to feel more comfortable in their body,” Pavoldi says. “It’s become a drag rather than something useful.”

Rolfing was invented by Ida P. Rolf, a researcher in biological chemistry with a Ph.D. from Columbia University. In the 1920s, Rolf went to Europe to study math, atomic physics and homeopathic medicine in Switzerland. She went on to explore alternative treatments such as osteopathy, chiropractic medicine and yoga. By the 1940s, Rolf was treating patients in her Manhattan apartment and developing the technique that bears her name. (Although both the guild and the Rolf Institute trace their beginnings to Rolf herself, only institute graduates can use the designation “rolfer.”)

A course of treatment typically consists of 10 sessions. Starting at the feet and working up, the first three focus on the surface layer of the fascia and aim to provide a stable foundation for the rest of the body. The next three “core” sessions go deeper, centering on the torso and head. The final three sessions seek to integrate the improvements made in the earlier sessions, and vary according to the client’s needs.

Both Mills and Pavoldi say they don’t require clients to commit to an entire 10-session series. Instead, they allow clients to decide how far they want to take it. Pavoldi counsels his clients to begin slowly. “It can be painful,” he says.

What sets rolfing apart is that it looks at how different elements of the system interact.” —Moira Mills

“It’s not a ‘fluff and buff’ massage.” That’s what opera singer Cornell found, although she admits she has a high tolerance for pain. And many of the sessions were relaxing, especially one in which Mills worked inside Cornell’s mouth. “I almost fell asleep,” she says.

Rolfing also differs from massage in that clients are expected to take an active part in what’s going on. They might be asked to move into different positions, for example, and they’re constantly asked for feedback. Some of that communication, Pavoldi says, can include a discussion of other areas of a client’s life. In fact, clients sometimes undergo an emotional release or outburst as a result of the intense physical manipulation.

Both Pavoldi and Mills downplay that aspect of rolfing, however. “Not everybody believes in the mind-body connection,” Mills says. “Because people have different beliefs, I stick more to the structural part of it.”

But both have found that emotions like stress do affect their clients’ bodies and play a part in determining what work needs to be done. “If things are out of control,” Pavoldi says, “you’ll see it in the neck and arms. I may bring that up, if they want to talk about it. I’m not a therapist, but my role is to bridge the gap between what’s going on in their body and what’s going on in their life. Our bodies give us a lot of information about what’s going on in our lives. Finally listening to it can have a really positive effect for people.” Pavoldi cautions that rolfing is not for everyone. People who are recovering from cancer, for example, may not benefit from the intense treatment. And he’s had clients with fibromyalgia who, “despite my best intentions,” found their condition worsened rather than improved under treatment. But he’s found that traditional medical practitioners usually have no problem with rolfing. (New York state does not certify rolfers, but many, like Pavoldi, hold a state massage license. The Rolf Institute and The Guild are the two organizations that train and certify practitioners.)

For Mills, rolfing is about helping people like Cornell achieve the goals they have in their lives. That includes educating them about how their body works, and giving them stretching and other exercise tools they can use to build on the treatment she’s given in the office.

Now that her 10-session series is done, Cornell says she’s looking forward to the continuing improvements in her physical condition and in her singing. “I recommend it to all my students,” she says.

by Sue Seecof

Boulder, CO…May 15, 2004. When Amy Acuff, two-time U.S. Olympic high jumper posed for the Sept. ’04 cover of Playboy magazine she had only one thing on her mind. Winning the 2004 Olympic gold. Her 4th place win in Athens last month positioned her as the only American to score in the high jump. Ranked top 10 in the world for four years, Acuff has a reputation for rising above the rest when it comes to claiming the spotlight. Interviewed in Vogue, Esquire, Glamour, and Rolling Stone she has been recognized for her athleticism and personal style.

For an athlete of this caliber, Acuff’s training depends on body strength, flexibility, and fitness, and includes a type of bodywork called Rolfing® structural integration to give her the competitive edge. Acuff says Rolfing potentially helps improve her balance and flexibility.

Acuff is not the only Olympian to use Rolfing. Others include three-time U.S. Olympic Judo player, Brian Olson; 2004 U.S. bronze medalist marathon runner, Mebrahtom Keflezighi, and Sanya Richards who placed 5th in the 400 meter run. Another 2004 Olympian, Obadele Thompson, representing Barbados, placed 7th in the 100 meter run.

Sports Illustrated For Women.com says Rolfing is “enjoying a resurgence among professional athletes.” Former U.S. Olympians like Michelle Kwan, Elvis Stojko, Wendy Wagner, and Ben Hindle have also recommended Rolfing and used it to prepare for the Olympics. Wagner, a skier, told Sports Illustrated For Women in an interview about her experience with Rolfing, “I breathe deeper; my balance is better. It gives a competitive edge.” Erin Aldrich, 2000 U. S. Olympic high jumper, recommended Rolfing to Acuff. Acuff says Rolfing helped improve her alignment so she could stand up straighter. “As an athlete, good alignment changes the whole way you receive information,” says Acuff. “Your eyes are set to interpret spatial relationships based on where your head is. If your head is leaning forward or cocked to the side, it is harder to interpret distance and have an awareness of where you are in space.”

“As an Olympic high jumper, my motor skills, range of motion and power through that range of motion are critical,” says Acuff. “When I take off I have to be in position, and more important, I have to be powerful through the launch. I use Rolfing to increase my performance. It frees up a lot of space in my movement, increases my range of motion and gives me more efficient muscle control. The increased range of motion helps me refine the use of my proprioceptions, so I know where I am in space. It also streamlined my motor pathways.”

In the spotlight a few years ago, Esquire magazine profiled Acuff wearing a fur fashion bra and briefs in competition. Waving the American flag, clad in red, white, and blue body paint, Esquire says Acuff was impressive, “… what Amy Acuff can do with her body has always been more amazing than how she makes it look. Acuff can jump over your head. That is, unless you’re six seven.”

Acuff won the 2004 U.S. indoor National Championships and has been receiving Rolfing for a year. She says, “I received Rolfing in March 2003, before I went to the World Indoor Championships with the USA Track and Field team. Rolfing helped increase my endurance, so I was able to compete more frequently indoors. Normally I would not dare to compete for a few days back to back, it is too stressful, the joints feel jammed, and there is swelling and pain in my hip and ankle joints. Rolfing helped me do the jumps back to back, because I was putting less compression on my joints.”

The U.S. produces some of the world’s greatest track and field stars. Amy Acuff says the precision of her performance is vital to her success, “When I received Rolfing I was really impressed how I was able to make connections between distant parts of my body and see how they were related. For an athlete, this increase in connection can really improve your precision. The more I feel the connection and flexibility, the better I feel the precision in performing the jump.”

Watching Acuff launch her jump, her coach knows Acuff has the skill to bring in the gold. Acuff, says, “As I come into my approach, I scan my whole body. I have to take off within a few inches of my ideal or the jump is ruined. As I run, my eyes take in information and send messages to my brain that help put me in that precise target area.”

Olympian and teammate, Erin Aldrich introduced Acuff to her Certified Rolfer, Brian Beard at Academy of Oriental Medicine where Acuff is studying acupuncture. Acuff received Rolfing sessions before the world championships last May, and before the Olympics. Former Olympian, Erin Aldrich, was ranked No. 1 in the U. S. when she led the women’s 2000 Olympic team. She says Rolfing helped her make the Olympic team, “I credit Rolfing for turning around a really bad injury – my sprained ankle – in time for me to jump at the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials. I saw my Rolfer, Brian Beard every week before the trails. I was scared I wasn’t going to be able jump at all. He turned the ankle around, got me back to 100% and I made the team.” At the Olympic trials, Aldrich jumped 6’4″ to make the team.

Olympic MD, Dr. Karl Ullis of Santa Monica, CA, who has worked with Olympic athletes in track and field says, “The Olympic athletes wouldn’t have as many injuries if they had soft tissue manipulation. Rolfing is valuable for all athletes in high level competition to address the build up of scar tissue and the disarrangement of myofascial tissue that occurs from training, scaring and injury. Athletes always need help with chronic injuries, muscular strain and overuse. Sports therapies help with circulation and relaxation but Rolfing supports structural realignment for greater efficiency of movement and more precise movement.”

Rolfing® is a brand of structural integration and is a registered service mark of the Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration. For more info go to www.rolf.org.

Bio: Brian Beard, Certified Rolfer has a private practice at Academy of Oriental Medicine, in Austin Texas. He has worked with trainers and athletes on many teams at the University of Texas including, football, women’s golf, track and field, basketball and volleyball teams.

Celebrities And Elite Athletes Offer Perspectives On Rolfing® And Repetitive Stress Syndrome,  Chronic Back Pain, And Athletics

Boulder, CO…  Rolfing® structural integration has gained acceptance in diverse communities.   The athletic, medical, corporate and artistic worlds have all embraced Rolfing as an effective  treatment modality.  For example, many professional and Olympic athletes have found that  Rolfing enhances performance and reduces recovery time for sport related injuries.

‘02 Olympic silver medalists Michelle Kwan and Elvis Stojko have found they have a  competitive advantage by working with a Rolfer.  Stojko, says, “Rolfing helped me to find my center of balance for competition.”  Sharon Sander, of the U.S. Pentathlon team, who competed  in the first women’s Olympics pentathlon, says, “I recommend Rolfing for any athlete who has  ever had trouble with injuries or doesn’t feel like they are reaching their potential.”  Among the  many professional sports figures who have received Rolfing are Charles Barkley of the Houston Rockets; Cris Carter, Minnesota Vikings, Capt. Of Offense; Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls coach; Qadry Ismail, Baltimore Raven’s SuperBowl star receiver; and Bob Tewksbury, pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.

Rolfing is gaining credence in the scientific, corporate and creative communities.  Newsweek  and the Wall St. Journal report that insurance coverage for Rolfing is now available.  Employees are aided in the workplace with Rolfing structural integration.  The Minneapolis Star Tribune, says, “Starkey Laboratories, an (international) maker of hearing aids, …has an on-site Rolfer for employees.  Larry Miller, Starkey’s vice president of human relations, said Rolfing plays a key role in injury prevention (for repetitive stress injuries) and helps save the company about $1 million a year in workers’ compensation costs.”

An example in the artistic sphere – Good Morning America, People, and the New York Times have reported that Rolfing® has enabled Leon Fleisher, a Peabody virtuoso concert pianist, to make a 30 year comeback from 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 results were remarkable.”  John Hopkins magazine, 1995.

Levar Burton, of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Reading Rainbow and Roots spoke on the Oprah Winfrey Show about the changes he experienced from Rolfing bodywork.  “I always felt great after each if the sessions…” explains Levar.  “I was really solid and I finally felt totally at home in my body.”

Minnesota Vikings, Capt. Of Offense, Cris Carter demands a lot from his bodies. When a high ankle sprain took him out of the game, he sought out Wayne Henningsgaard, his Certified Rolfer.  Cris says, “Six physicians predicted I would be out of the game for five weeks with that high ankle sprain.  Wayne had me back out in a week– I played the Green Bay game and within two weeks I was playing full force again and ran a 100 yard game.”

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,” says Dr. Ullis.  “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.”

“My wife recommended (Rolfing) highly”, songwriter Willie Nelson reports, “…The first of ten  sessions fixed (my back pain),” reported the New York Times, on Feb. 23, 1995.

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, Wash., 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 two 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.

Dr. Ronald Tarrel, D.O., a neurologist, at the Noran Neurological Clinic in Minneapolis, 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, on 1/29/02, 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.”

The Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy published a Chronic Lower Back Pain case study by Certified Rolfer and physical therapist, John Cottingham, in1997.  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.

“Mademoiselle” magazine featured Certified Rolfer, Danielle Schreiber in a career article, “Who Makes 6 Figures?” in Feb. 2001.  Danielle recommends Rolfing as a career, “I run my own practice; I see 40-50 clients each week and charge $100-$150 an hour.  I recommend being your  own boss…A bodywork using Structural Integration can take a client to great depths of body awareness.”

The Phoenix Suns were the first major NBA team to have a Certified Advanced Rolfer, like  Jeffrey Maitland on hand.  “Phoenix Suns guard, Danny Ainge, who has been Rolfed for years, recommended the therapy to (Charles) Barkley.  Other Suns, Mark West and A.C. Green, also have been Rolfed…with satisfactory results,” says the Arizona Republic, May 1994.

World Champion and five-time gold medal Olympic skier, Sarah Will, a member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team is a paraplegic athlete that credits her gold medals to Rolfing.  Will’s says,  ”Rolfing gives you a competitive edge as an athlete.”

Bob Tewksbury, pitcher for the Minnesota Twins says, “I have received many benefits from  Rolfing.  In 1991, my massage therapist recommended it as a way to get a deeper level of work.   Although the benefits of muscle work come and go depending on when and how regularly I get Rolfing work, I have noticed long lasting benefits with regard to my breathing, my posture and  my body awareness.  I have used Rolfing mainly in two areas, for my lower and upper back to  help with flexibility and stiffness and to enhance my performance.  I plan to use it again.”

Former N.Y. Mets pitcher, Craig Swan’s career ended from a sports injury. “Bodywork can extend athletic careers,” says Certified Rolfer, Craig Swan.  “I truly believe if I had received Rolfing in the early part of my career, I would still be pitching today.”

Erin Aldrich, 2000 U.S. Olympic track and field high jumper says, “I credit Rolfing for turning around a badly sprained ankle — in time for me to jump at the U.S. Olympic trials.  I saw my Certified Rolfer, Brian Beard every week before the trails. I was scared I wasn’t going to be able  jump at all but he turned my ankle around.  My Rolfer, got me back to 100% and I made the team.”

Rolfing is an established leader in the field of alternative health and education.  Research says that the public spends billions of dollars on alternative medicine.  Insurance companies, hospitals and medical schools have taken notice and are changing the way they do business.  “Demand for the services of health practitioners like Rolfers is growing as evidenced by the Nov. ‘98 JAMA estimate of $21.2 billion being spent for alternative medicine in ‘97,” says Certified Advanced Rolfer and physician, Dr. Bret Nye.  “Integrative health care, is a new trend, that combines Western and complementary medicines to offer the best technological advances in health care.

Health insurance companies are increasingly becoming interested in therapies like Rolfing not only as potential cost effective alternatives or complements to traditional modalities, but  as opportunities to provide coverage for services that will distinguish them in an increasingly  competitive market place of providers.”

Newsweek and the Wall St. Journal reported in 1995 that some health insurers now reimburse doctors who prescribe Rolfing structural integration in their medical treatment plans.  Insurance providers at Harvard Community Health Plan, Mutual of Omaha, and Sharp Health Plan cover preventative alternative care.  Back pain, TMJ, and car accident injuries are among the many health ailments that have been treated successfully by Rolfing manipulation.

On the Minnesota Vikings Game Day Show, KSTP TV anchor, Ron Simmons said, “From  training camp to the Superbowl, pain is part of the NFL game. This is precisely the time of the season when the colder weather, all the back to back games with out a break, and the aches and pains add up. For many of the players relief is survival. To get that relief more and more Vikings turn to Rolfing. Massage it is not. It is alternative therapy designed to heal these athletes  quicker. You might call it Rolfing insurance. It’s (Rolfer, Wayne) Henningsgaard’s hands that help players like Lance Johnstone mend and stay a step ahead of injury.” Nov. 15, 2003.

Originally printed in Footnotes a publication of the Road Runners Club of America vol. 12 #6 Summer 1985

What good are the best running shoes, clothing, digital watches, individualized diets, energy supplements and specialized training routines if the human body – the vehicle of performance – is not organized to achieve its most optimal level of efficiency? What if your greatest obstacle to enjoyment and maximum running performance is your imbalanced body? Why have your body work against you as you run, when its patterns can be reorganized to take full advantage of mechanical and gravitational forces that influence human movement?

A system of body work already exists that can make dramatic changes in a person’s structure. Developed by Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D., this body technology, known as Rolfing®, involves body manipulation and movement education. Rolfers are trained to realign the body into its optimal organization. Rolfer believe that the shape of the body reflects how well it is operating and how well lined up (balanced) it is with the field of gravity. the general goal of Rolfing® is to bring the various segments of the body (head, neck, torso, pelvis, legs, and feet into balanced and supportive relationships with one another.

Klaus Weber began his Rolfing® sessions at age 40. ” I feel 100 percent better since my Rolfing®, and I’ve achieved new personal records in almost all distances.” he says. “Running is so effortless now it almost seems more like play than anything “. In the 100K that Weber ran this summer in the mountains of his native Switzerland, he knocked an incredible one hour and 39 minutes off his previous personal best. Weber also competes in national cross country skiing in the masters division. He reduced his time in the 50K race by 15 minutes 38 seconds only three months after his tenth session of Rolfing®. This is a very rapid rate of improvement, as it usually takes the body a good six months to fully integrate the changes and adjust to the new and improved alignment. In the October 1984 Tour of Albuquerque Marathon, Weber finished second in the 40-49 age group while averaging 6:50 per mile. This was an 11 minute improvement over his 1983 time.

Structural Changes

Rolfing® can bring about fundamental changes in body structure because the connective tissues of the body have a highly pliable quality. These connective tissues wrap around all muscles and connect muscle to bone and muscles to each other. Connective tissues give the body its form. The Rolfer uses his hands to stretch the shortened connective tissues back to their normal length and consistency. The repositioning of body segments assures that the legs line up and are supported by the feet, the pelvis is centered atop the legs, the torso rides comfortably upon the pelvis, and the neck and head are evenly balanced on the upper torso.

When the body segments begin to assume their normal position, an immediate improvement in function is noticed. Proper alignment gives the appearance and feel that the body is gliding along rather than overworking with each step. In an aligned structure each body part is able to perform its own job more completely because it is no longer compensating for the imbalances I the whole body. In such a system, gravity works as a supportive and uplifting force through the body.

In an unbalance body, we have a system fighting gravity that must be held up by muscular effort, whereas I the balanced structure we have a body in harmony with gravity because it is supported by proper alignment. The more this balance condition is achieved, the more we are able to use the body to its maximum benefit.

A typical first visit to a Rolfer would probably begin with the filling our of a health questionnaire, having photographs taken (client dressed in underwear) and then a structural evaluation of the client’s body patterns from the perspective of Rolfing®. The client then lies down on a cushioned table, sits on a bench, or sometimes stands while the Rolfer uses his hands to stretch and loosen the connective tissue that has hardened and bunched up and no longer allows the neighboring muscles and joints to move as freely as they could.

The client may feel a localized or general burning sensation as if the skin were being stretched too far. This only lasts while the tightened tissue areas are releasing. soon after, the client usually reports a sense of warmth, length, lightness, tingling sensations and new freedom in the area worked on as well as in surrounding areas as the changes spread through the connective tissue network. Clients report greater ease in movement and breathing, as well as improved balance an stability.

Initially, clients receive a basic 10 session series of Rolfing® sessions. This gives the Rolfer an opportunity to work systematically and comprehensively increasing the bound up and inefficient muscular patterns in a person’s body. Many clients elect to return six months to two years later for the follow up sessions that focus more closely o specific structural and movement problems.

Observing bodies

As a Rolfer, I am a continuous observer of the structure of the human body. I am interested in the way people’s bodies are organized and how they interact with the field of gravity. A 2 1/4 mile train around a golf course has become the most popular running spot in my city. People of all ages, shapes and sizes can be seen jogging and running at nearly any time of the day or night. As I watch these people completing their laps, my eyes are drawn to how ell the various segments of their bodies (feet, legs, pelvis, torso, shoulders, neck and head) stack up or support each other during movement. Sometimes I’m treated to viewing beautifully balanced bodies moving with grace and efficiency. Unfortunately, what I see most of the time are unsupported and mechanically inefficient bodies working too hard in an attempt to compensate for imbalance. It’s as if people are running against themselves rather than with themselves.

Imbalanced Pushoff

Let’s examine some specific examples of structural imbalance in running styles. Starting from the ground up, I see lots of runners whose feet do not his the ground evenly. This defect causes an imbalanced pushoff and requires the ankle, knee and hip hinges to compensate by twisting, shortening and working harder than they need to. Very seldom do I see runners whose feet and legs track relatively parallel. Most often, I se feet turned out too far (duck feet) or turned inward (pigeon toed), which wastes energy and alters the length of the stride. With only a three degree inversion or eversion of the foot, a 2:50 marathoner would expend extra energy required to travel an extra 2.65 miles.

Many people only run on the toes with the ball, mid-sole, and heel never striking the ground unless they get very tired. These runners are unable to take advantage of what I call the “power connection” , the most optimally efficient line of force direction in the foot, which runs from the medial aspect of the big toe along the plantar tendon to the inner one-third of the clacaneus (heel bone). Use of the “power connection” results in the most pushoff and forward thrust for each root placement and ensures the proper transmission of the mechanical action up through the entire leg.

Many runners exhibit a shuffle style of movement that suggests they are kicking a ball closely in front of them The hips are rigidly held, and the lower leg is stiff, with very little knee flexion. Other people run around with pelvis (women show this more than men). The legs swing out and around in a half arc before they begin a forward direction. Such runners have a very narrow tracking pattern and will often scuff the front inside edge of their show into the opposite foot.

In another common pattern, the runner is bent over at the waist an sunk into the pelvis as if carrying a sack of potatoes across the upper back and shoulders. The opposite of this pattern is the runner whose head, arms, and shoulder girdle are held high and back (At attention) , which shoves the middle back (between the shoulder blades) and the lower back forward, giving a bowed shape to the body. These runners usually have an unnecessarily high knee lift. When one views them from the side, it appears as if they are funning upstairs. In either of these extremes, the “collapsed” or “held up” patterns, excessive energy is being used to maintain the imbalance an still move the body forward while running.

The running style I see most often involves no integration between the upper and lower halves of the body. To a Rolfer, such runners appear – cut off at the waist – the top half doesn’t know what the bottom half is doing. They don’t support each other’s movement during running. This pattern is often characterized by the leg lifting too high before moving forward because the deeper muscles of the thigh, groin and abdomen are not being used properly during each leg swing. There is often excessive arm motion crossing the body’s mid-line and creating mechanical drag on the system during each step.

Of course there are many other patterns of structural imbalance, including torso rotated I one direction and hips rotated in the other, and foot plants that actually cross over each other with each successive step. There are also very unique breathing patterns that use only certain portions of the lungs when taxed and those that never fully exhale, which creates negative pressure in the whole respiratory cavity.

The point to remember is that each pattern represents a adaptation or compensation from the normal structural balance that significantly reduces performance, increases the possibility of injury, and accelerates structural deterioration (aging) of the body. The second and most important point is that these imbalances can be systematically changed and new body alignment can be evoked, resulting in a balanced, graceful and significantly more efficient style of running. For runners concerned with levels of performance, this means a incredible opportunity for personal improvement.

World Class Runners

Alberto Salazar, the world class marathoner, has a running style combining aspects from two of the previously described patterns. His problem really begins in the pelvis. Salazar has “pigeon hips” that create “pigeon toes” (feet). The heads of the femurs (upper leg bone) are inwardly rotated at the hip socket, shortening the groin and rolling the legs inward. Each step he takes compresses his body structure more deeply into this pattern, shortening the lumbar spine and pulling the waist (lower abdomen) down into the top half of the pelvis while jamming the upper thigh into the bottom portion of the pelvis. This creates a log jam at a critical place where he needs more range of motion in flexion and extension of the hip.

Salazar’s structure gears out the use of the deeper illiopsoas complex and makes him rely too heavily on the surface abdominal, groin, and thigh muscles, which further contributes to the shortening in the front of the body. From a functional point of view, the legs cross the pelvis and extend to the bottom inner surface of the ribs via the psoas (pronounced sew-as) major, psoas minor and illiacus muscles. These muscles collectively form a bridge between the legs and upper body so that imbalance and compression in the rib cage, waist and pelvis ultimately reduce the range of motion and efficiency of the legs. When the tone and span of the psoas are properly balanced with the surrounding muscles, the hip hinge will function properly, as leg movements are able to transmit all the way to the spine. With a balanced psoas the knees will track more parallel and straight ahead. This change eliminates rolling or jerking gaits that have excess side-to-side movement impeding the intended line of travel.

Salazar appears to be running up a slight incline – “leaning into the hill” – when, in essence, what he is doing biomechanically is running into the ground and compressing his torso deeper into his pelvis. Accentuating the bent-over look. What Alberto needs is not more mileage or speed work: he needs a complete overhaul of his musculo-skeletal system so as to run in harmony with gravity rather than against it. This kind of intelligent repatterning of his body would contribute more to improved efficiency and performance than any other improvements (dietary, training or equipment) he may focus upon. He runs farther with more effort per step than is necessary because of these two main musculoskeletal imbalances. Salazar ‘s condition and resultant performance could be improved dramatically with integrated structural change that Rolfing® could bring to his body.

Unfortunately, the technology and foundational principles of Rolfing® are still unknown to most world class runners. When it finally breaks through, we will observe dramatic changes and improvements in running styles and times as well as a significant reduction in chronic injury patterns that have a musculo-skeletal component.

Some time ago I was watching a marathon on television. There were about nine runners grouped together in the lead pack for nearly the first three quarters of the race. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to observe the styles of several world class runners at the same time. Of course, each had his own unique structure, which dictated to a great extent the style of running exhibited. But from a Rolfing® perspective, all these runners had one thing in common: each was not using his body to maximum benefit. Each runner showed a high degree of mechanical inefficiency and significant structural imbalance. If each was to achieve greater structural balance with all body parts working in harmony, there is no telling just how much greater his performances could be. Rolfing® is not a form of primary health care and should not be used as a substitute for regular medical treatment. People who do come to Rolfing® with specific problems have exhausted traditional medical options or they have been referred by a physician for improvement of their musculo-skeletal condition. Rolfers don’t focus on trying to “fix” isolated areas or relieve localized pain. These improvements just happen naturally if the entire structure is balanced – which, of course, is the primary goal of Rolfing®.

If a person has an injury or a recurring structural problem, he or she is encouraged to seek appropriate medical attention for an accurate diagnosis of the condition. After this step has been taken, Rolfing® is often suggested as a viable option for addressing the specific condition in the context of rebalancing the entire body. Because of increasing evidence of the success of Rolfing®, more physicians are referring their patients to Rolfers for help with musculoskeletal problems.

What are some of the specific running benefits that can be brought bout as a result of your body improving its balance and alignment form Rolfing® sessions? You should experience a more optimal foot plant and push off as your feet will be hitting the ground more squarely. Your muscles will be activated in a more appropriate sequence to reinforce effective mechanical motion through the lower leg, knee, upper leg and pelvis during each step. This change will ensure that your gait length is more appropriate to your structure, thus eliminating over or under striding. This change also reduces leg and foot fatigue, as each component does only its right job in the proper sequence. With all the joints lined up and working as effective shock absorbers, you will be able to limit the inevitable long-term structural deterioration that results from the percussive / compressive effects of running. With less compensation taking place in the body, there is a decreased potential for nagging injuries (shin splints, heel pain, fascial strain, stress fractures, and tendon problems) that sooner or later beset people who run.

Physiological Improvement

When your connective tissues are healthier and have appropriate levels of tone, certain physiological improvements would be experienced. Fluids will flow more easily, nerve impulses will be conducted more smoothly, thus creating a more effective motor response. Breathing will be easier, and waste product removal will be more efficient. Overall, one should find less random movement, as structural integrity is maintained and efficient motion is promoted during running. Rolfing® has even helped people who would never even think that they might be able to run. Jim Hagerman came to be Rolfed when he was twenty-seven. He had suffered from chronic asthma all his life. After his seventh session, Jim tried some jogging and noticed that his breathing was much improved and the painful constricted feeling in his chest was almost completely gone. Three months after his tenth session Jim was running two miles, three times a week. Jim returned for some follow-up sessions about mine months after he had the original ten sessions of Rolfing®. He reported that he was now running six miles a day, four times a week at a 7:30 pace. Before Rolfing®, he would be gasping for air after walking up a small flight of steps.

People do not come for treatment for asthma. In the case illustrated it just so happened that alleviation of asthma symptoms coincided with the Rolfing® sessions which are primarily focusing upon structural order and balance.

If you are interested in improving the level of structural balance in your body and enhancing your performance, I invite you to contact a Rolfer and Rolfing® Movement Teacher in your local area for a free consultation. They will provide you with an accurate assessment of your structural balance and discuss with you the impact this has upon your running efficiency. Give it a try, you’ve got nothing to lose and a lot to gain.