Rolfing® — get back your back

A Rolfer™ is trained to assess your entire body’s structure to determine the underlying cause of the pain in your sacrum and lumbar spine.

by Deanna Melnychuk — 

Do you have chronic low back pain? Is it a symptom or a cause? Is your lower back in pain because of other bodily misalignments caused by tight connective tissue?

A Rolfer™ is trained to assess your entire body’s structure to determine the underlying cause of the pain in your sacrum and lumbar spine. The practitioner may notice that you have tight, shortened hamstrings or that your glutes are in spasm. She will ask questions such as: Did you actively play contact sports in high school? Did you have knee injuries and subsequent surgery? Were you in an accident that caused a bruised hip for months and left a “knot” in it?

As the puzzle pieces of your life fall into place, the Rolfer looks for those long forgotten moments of falling from the jungle gym onto your tailbone or crashing your bicycle, flying over the handlebars, and landing on your head or right/left shoulders.

Childhood injuries begin the spiral of misalignment within our bodies. More recent injuries and surgeries compound that misalignment, as our connective tissues shorten, thicken and harden to compensate for a sore leg or stiff hip.

A series of 10 Rolfing sessions can free the restricted, frozen connective tissue, creating length and suppleness in your muscles. Your body will feel the ease of extended movement in the joints. Your energy will return as your body comes into its proper alignment of torso over hips and head, and neck over torso. Your entire “game” will improve because your coordination and flexibility are enhanced.

After the 10 sessions (each of which are two to three weeks apart), you will go in once or twice a year for a tune-up to maintain that feeling of length and well-being in your body. However, if you have an accident or surgery, get a tune-up as soon as possible after the incident. Good body alignment does not just happen — create it and maintain it through Rolfing. Get back your pain-free back, now.

Deanna Melnychuk, B.Sc., is a certified advanced Rolfer and Rolfing Movement practitioner, licensed massage therapist, Reiki master, cranial release practitioner, cranioSacral therapist and reflexologist. 602-404-8685 or www.rolfingcentre.com.

Reprinted from AZNetNews, Volume 30, Number 6, Dec/Jan 2012.