Myofascial Release/Structural Integration

Myofascial Release / Structural Integration corrects connective tissue injuries, places in the body that are traumatized and/or scarred, using manual traction and direct sustained pressure on an area of the body. Relief can be rapid and dramatic – you often can feel pain relief in one treatment.

Fascia is connective tissue, a continuous network that extends from the soles of the feet to the top of the head, according to John Barnes. It is tough, fibrous, and spreads throughout the body like a three-dimensional web. Even if all other structures were removed from the body except for fascia, the body would still retain its shape. Fascia covers the muscles, bones, nerves, organs and vessels down to the cellular level. Clinical evidence has shown that fascial restrictions cause pain, malfunction and debilitating bodily symptoms. Their removal restores function, eliminates pain, and facilitates healing.

It was Dr. Ida Rolf who over four decades ago discovered the importance of fascia, how to release it, and developed a method of bodywork designed to restructure the body to function optimally. Her system, formally called structural integration and often labeled Rolfing (a copyrighted logo), includes ten or more sessions during which the practitioner follows a recipe or a prescribed process for all persons. Dr. Sid was trained in this methodology and practiced structural integration for a number of years. His teacher was Dr. Ed Maupin, Rolf’s seventh trainee.

A physical therapist, John E Barnes, more recently developed a system of Myofascial Release that employs the application of sustained pressure by the therapist on the body of the patient held until changes in the fascia are perceived by the practitioner. Each individual receives treatment unique to the needs of that patient, without following a dictated format.