IS THERE SCIENTIFIC PROOF ABOUT ROLFING® ®?
Several scientific studies of Rolfing® have been conducted. For example, in a controlled study at the UCLA Department of Kinesiology, Drs. Valerie V. Hunt and Wayne W. Massey established that the aim of Rolfing® ®, “to create and maintain a more balanced energy system which conserves energy rather than expends it” was, in fact, achieved. They found that,Movements were smoother, larger and less constrained. There were less extraneous movements. Body movements were more dynamic and energetic. Carriage was more erect and there was less obvious strain to maintain held positions. Other research projects include a study of Rolfing® and its positive effects on the autonomic nervous system published in Physical Therapy, the journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, March 1999 issue.
Rolfing has been studied scientifically several times, with very positive results (more studies are currently ongoing). One example is a five year study conducted by Dr. Valerie Hunt and Dr. Wayne Massey at the UCLA Department of Kinesiology, called “A Study of Structural Integration from Neuromuscular, Energy Field and Emotional Approaches”. There were measurements before and after Rolfing of anxiety states, brain hemisphere activity, energy field photography, DC recordings of energy flow in electrical voltage readings, EMG recordings from sixteen separate muscles, electromyograms of neuromuscular patterning of energy, and electronic auric field study. This study produced many results, difficult to briefly summarize.
