suhre@trwrba.UUCP (Maurice E. Suhre) (07/07/84)
I have been both to chiropractor and to a Rolfer (to be defined
later). My vote is for the Rolfers.
A chiropractor performs manipulations. If you believe in bacteria,
microbes, and viruses as being causes of diseases (rather than
spinal column irregularaties or some such), then chiropracty
is not appropriate for a large class of problems. However, it
is probably an appropriate *option* for muscle strains and back
trouble (or neck trouble) of a variety of type. I treatments
were occasionally slightly painful for me, but I was in pain
when I started (or was in certain positions). Obviously, if I
hadn't had any complaints, I would not have gone. I got some help.
I sort of went out of curiosity. I had been to rolfers before, and
wanted to try something different. The "cracking" that the
chirpractors do is rather unnerving, but didn't hurt.
The Consumer Reports had a series of articles about chiropractic
a few years ago. They were not very complimentary.
Rolfing (developed by the late Ida Rolf) is a bodywork procedure
which attempts to realign the body. The approach is to apply
a moderately painful pressure using elbows, hands, or fingertips
as appropriate. The fascia (a sheath which covers the muscles
and gives the body its shape) is stretched by this process and
in general the body regains its natural shape.
The two procedures are quite different. The Rolfing school of
thought is that when there is a structual misalignment, the tissue
and bone are used to a certain position. If you move the bone without
doing something with the surrounding tissue, the bone will gradually
move back to where it was, since that is where the tissue is expecting
it.
I got Rolfed in l975 because of pinched nerve in my neck. I had gone
to an orthopedist and he had prescribed an anti-inflammatory and
physical therapy. When I was in traction, I felt fine, but as soon
as the pull released, I hurt again. I reasoned that if Rolfing could
let my neck pop up a little, I would feel OK. That is what happened.
People who get Rolfed usually have some recall of buried psychological
material. Also, they will be emotionally much looser afterwards.
The principal drawback is cost. The normal arrangement is 10 sessions
each about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, $75 a throw (LA rates). They may be
a little higher now (1984 -- inflation). I would recommend looking
at the before/after pictures in Ida Rolf's book. You can see
the improvement in how those people are standing.
There is a similar procedure to Rolfing called Heller work. I cannot
comment except to say that my understanding is that it is essentially
the same concept. There may be a slight difference in philosophy.
Rolfing was the most powerful thing that I have ever done, at least
in a human potential movement sense. The psychological material just
flew up at me, and I had a terrible time dealing with it. I used to
go to Rolfing on Monday, and psychotherapy on Wednesday. My therapy
was and has been much more effective since getting Rolfed.
I've been rambling. One last item: The benefits of Rolfing are likely
to last for some time. It is a situation similar to the Reichiann (sp?)
body armor stuff. Whatever the situations which caused us to armor
ourselves, we are probably better able to cope with that as an adult,
or the situation may no longer exist (sibling rivalry, abusive parents,
what have you).
I would be glad to share my experience and answer any specific questions
that this might have generated. Please reply via e-mail.
Maurice
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