Research Review

University of California Los Angeles

Dr. Valerie Hunt, director of the Movement Behavior Laboratory at UCLA and Dr. Julian Silverman, Research Specialist of the California Department of Mental Hygiene, tested subjects before and after Rolfing for changes in neurological control of the muscles, for variation in responses to stimuli and for biochemical changes. They stated that after Rolfing "carriage was more erect and with less obvious strain to maintain held positions" and that Rolfing also "Creates a more efficient use of muscles, allows the body to conserve energy, and creates economical and refined patterns of movement."

At the UCLA Department of Kinesiology a five year study was conducted again by Dr. Valerie Hunt and colleague Dr. Wayne Massey; "A Study of Structural Integration from Neuromuscular, Energy Field and Emotional Approaches" completed in 1977. 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 summarize adequately in a brief statement. These are a few of its findings:

Evidence of changes in ways of processing data and the nature of thought processes that ensue
Emotional calmness; decrease in anxiety state
Improved social interaction
Feelings of well being
Memory recall
Enhanced ability to access different states of consciousness
Increasing right hemisphere brain dominance when needed for right brain activity
Greater physical skill
Greater movement efficiency
More energy; less fatigue
Improved neuromuscular balance
Greater energy flow and balance distribution of energy

University of Maryland

"Rolfing significantly reduces chronic tension, changes body structure and enhances neurological functioning."

Rolfing Children

Three year pilot study in Philadelphia, PA conducted by a group of Rolfers led by Robert Toporek, 1978; monograph "The Promise of Rolfing Children" reported on this study published in 1981. Each child's photograph before Session 1 and after Session 10 and some two and three years later were shown. A summary of results gathered from interviewing the parents and Rolfer's comments documented the changes. Result: This pilot study with children demonstrated that:

Dramatic improvement in the children’s physical, psychological and behavioral patterns had occurred.
Consistently parents reported the children had increased confidence, better verbal expression, more self-control and less destructive behavior.
Rolfing is an effective means to address conditions such as cerebral palsy or scoliosis.

Other Research

Physiological Changes

Ida Rolf and R.G. Taylor (1962) conducted a study to determine the degree of metabolic changes which occur as a result of Rolfing. The conclusions drawn were that "all indices show consistent appropriate changes" and "an immediate and lasting shift in the homeostatic equilibrium" in both blood samples and the Cameron Heartometer measurements.
Julian Silverman (1973) conducted a psycho-physiological study indicating significant differences in EEG response, which suggests "increased sensitivity and receptivity to environmental stimulation and significant increases in organization of the sensory information processing system."
Roger Theis (1969) measured the vital capacity (of air) in persons being Rolfed. He found that some subjects increased their vital capacity by 33 to 66 percent over control values.

Neuromuscular changes

Elinor Gibbs (1973) conducted a movement study on Rolfed subjects in which the results suggest that Rolfing alters the neuromotor organization which increased the degree of relaxation in opposing muscle group, thereby reducing overall drag within the neuromuscular system.
Valerie Hunt conducted two studies on Rolfing. In 1972 she studied of the neuromuscular and kinesiological effects of Rolfing. The results suggest that after Rolfing there is less neuromuscular static, less random tension, and more efficient patterns of energy use. More specifically, she found movements were smoother, larger, less constrained; there were fewer extraneous movements; spatial movements were more dynamic and energetic; and posture was improved with more erect carriage and less obvious strain to maintain held positions. In the 1975 study Hunt correlated measurements of "psychic phenomenon" with measurements of neuromuscular phenomenon. Preliminary results indicate refinement of neuromuscular patterns towards efficiency in the Rolfed subjects along with a corresponding progressive change, interpreted as improvement, in the flow of "energy."

Positive Psychological changes

Beryl Jolley (1960) ascertained that certain positive psychological effects could be attributed to Rolfing. His findings indicate a more positive attitude, improved social intelligence, improved form perception, and fewer psycho-somatic complaints.
Doris Davis (1969) postulates that Rolfing effects certain aspects of the body along with certain of the corresponding body image of subjects taking part in a Rolfing class. Davis concluded for her group that Rolfing "produced measurable changes in the physical structure, behavior, and subjective self-perception for all of the nine models studied."
Julian Silverman (1973) gathered subjective personality data using the Welsh Anxiety scale, which indicated a decrease in anxiety after Rolfing, particularly in demonstrating the integral relationship between the human organism’s sensory and muscular systems.
Robert Lieber (1974) attempted to evaluate the possible relationship between changes in self-esteem and self-concept with changes in postural alignment as a result of Rolfing. Lieber’s findings indicate that as a result of Rolfing there was a definite postural change, and this related to changes in self-esteem and self-assurance.
Norman Beckett (1974) conducted a study on the psychotherapeutic value of Rolfing. He concludes "that measurable psychotherapeutic benefit does result from Rolfing, particularly in the personality variables measuring self-perception and self-awareness."
Long (1976) investigated changes in body image between a group of Rolfed persons and a group of persons participating in Gestalt therapy, type of psychotherapy. His findings indicate that the Rolfed group produced more measurable change in body perception and overall psychological sense.
Richard Wandler (1972) gave a personal account of how Rolfing affected three children classified as "autistic." He reported that the children showed a great deal of improvement and maturation from the process.

This is just a brief overview of the research on Rolfing. To learn more about the details of these projects, contact:

The Rolf Institute
205 Canyon Blvd.
Boulder, CO 80302
800-530-8875
www.rolf.org