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Rolfing structural integration treatment of cervical spine dysfunction

Helen James MPT, Luis Castaneda, Marilyn E. Miller PhT PT, Thomas Findley MD PhD

Please cite this article as: James, H., et al., Rolfing structural integration treatment of cervical spine dysfunction. Journal of

Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2008), doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2008.07.002

ABSTRACT

Background: Misalignments in the body compromise the architectural integrity. At

the tissue level, fascia shortens and thickens as the body engages in compensatory

strategies to maintain itself upright; these changes are known as myofascial

contractions. In physical therapy, there are several methods by which practitioners

treat neck dysfunction. However, studies showing the effect of those techniques are

limited.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rolfing structural

integration (RSI) in neck motion and pain levels of 31 subjects who received RSI. RSI

is a type of therapy that focuses on aligning the human body with gravity.

Methods: This retrospective study, over a period of 3 years of clinical practice,

analyzes changes in motion and pain levels at the neck for 31 subjects who

completed the RSI in 10 basic sessions. Participants were evaluated before and after

they received RSI. The data collected included: age, sex, occupation, referral

source, diagnosis, height, weight, photographs of postural views, range of motion

(ROM), pain, and functional complaints. ROM was assessed with the use of an

arthordial protractor. Data analysis using three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)

tested the hypothesis at a significance of 0.5.

Results: The mean pain levels and active range of motion (AROM) of the neck before

RSI significantly changed after the treatment (po0.5): there was a decrease in pain

and an increase in AROM. Pain levels/AROM-Age within-subject effect demonstrated

significant difference only in pain at best and rotation right; the mean pain levels in

the older group decreased by 67%, and the mean AROM for rotation right in the

younger group increased by 34%.

Discussion: In this sample, pain now was reduced more than pain best and pain

worst. Increased motion for lateral flexion was more than rotation, extension, and

flexion.

Conclusion: This investigation demonstrates that the basic 10 sessions of RSI, when

applied by a physical therapist with advanced RSI certification, is capable of

significantly decreasing pain and increasing AROM in adult subjects, male and

female, with complaints of cervical spine dysfunction regardless of age.

This article has been accepted for publication in Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies , a Medline indexed peer reviewed scientific journal.

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