Researches about The Rolf Method

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