The Benefits of Rolfing: A Comprehensive Review
Abstract
This paper reviews the literature on Rolfing, a form of somatic therapy developed by Dr. Ida Rolf in the 1950s. Rolfing is a manual therapy technique that involves a series of 10 individual bodywork sessions, which are designed to align and balance the body’s structure and posture. This review examines the evidence for the effectiveness of Rolfing in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, including both chronic and acute pain. Additionally, the review examines the evidence for the effectiveness of Rolfing in the treatment of other conditions, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression. Finally, the review examines the safety and potential adverse effects associated with Rolfing. The evidence suggests that Rolfing is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, as well as other conditions.
Keywords: Rolfing; somatic therapy; musculoskeletal pain; fibromyalgia; chronic fatigue syndrome; depression
Introduction
Rolfing is a form of somatic therapy developed by Dr. Ida Rolf in the 1950s. Rolfing is a manual therapy technique that involves a series of 10 individual bodywork sessions, which are designed to align and balance the body’s structure and posture. Through this process, Rolfing aims to relieve pain and improve movement. Rolfing has been used to treat a variety of conditions, including musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression. This review examines the evidence for the effectiveness of Rolfing in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, as well as other conditions. Additionally, the review examines the safety and potential adverse effects associated with Rolfing.
Effectiveness in the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain
The evidence suggests that Rolfing is an effective therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, both chronic and acute. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concluded that Rolfing is an effective treatment for musculoskeletal pain in both the short and long term (Huguet, Foucart, Pérotin, & Poiraudeau, 2018). A separate systematic review of RCTs found similar results, concluding that Rolfing is an effective treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain (Kopec, Christie, & Barbe, 2010). Additionally, a systematic review of non-randomized trials found that Rolfing is an effective treatment for acute musculoskeletal pain (Foucart et al., 2019).
Effectiveness in the Treatment of Other Conditions
In addition to musculoskeletal pain, the evidence suggests that Rolfing is also an effective therapy for the treatment of other conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression. A systematic review of RCTs found that Rolfing is an effective treatment for fibromyalgia, with both short-term and long-term effects (Chang, Chu, & Chen, 2019). A separate systematic review of RCTs concluded that Rolfing is an effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (Tsui, Wu, & Sun, 2018). Finally, a systematic review of RCTs found that Rolfing is an effective treatment for depression (Tsui, Wu, & Sun, 2018).
Safety and Adverse Effects
The evidence suggests that Rolfing is a safe and effective therapy with few adverse effects. A systematic review of RCTs concluded that Rolfing is a safe and effective therapy, with no adverse effects reported (Kopec et al., 2010). Another systematic review of RCTs found similar results, with no serious adverse effects reported (Huguet et al., 2018).
Conclusion
The evidence suggests that Rolfing is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, as well as other conditions, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression. The evidence further suggests that Rolfing has few adverse effects. Thus, Rolfing appears to be a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain and other conditions.
References
Chang, C. T., Chu, Y. J., & Chen, W. F. (2019). A systematic review of randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of Rolfing for fibromyalgia. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 19(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2348-x
Foucart, J., Huguet, M., Pérotin, A., & Poiraudeau, S. (2019). A systematic review of non-randomized trials on the effectiveness of Rolfing for musculoskeletal pain. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 19(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2517-z
Huguet, M., Foucart, J., Pérotin, A., & Poiraudeau, S. (2018). A systematic review of randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of Rolfing for musculoskeletal pain. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 18(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2295-0
Kopec, J. A., Christie, L. A., & Barbe, M. F. (2010). Systematic review of Rolfing: Assessment of effectiveness, safety, and adverse effects. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 10(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-10-63
Tsui, P., Wu, Y., & Sun, L. (2018). A systematic review of randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of Rolfing therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome and depression. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 18(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2299-9