Recently my Rolfing colleague Owen Marcus and I have received some media attention when one of the local TV stations wanted to approach Rolfing from the point of view of stress reduction. So I called John Cottingham and asked him what I could legitimately say about stress reduction on the basis of his research. What follows is my summary of John’s research. It is stated in a number of different ways for media people and for promoting Rolfing in other contexts. If you find this useful, please use it where appropriate.

My thanks to John for his generosity and help. I think it is great that we can now say in public that research shows that Rolfing significantly reduces chronic stress. We have always known this is true, but now we have some data to back it up.

RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THAT ROLFING PRODUCES SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTION OF CHRONIC STRESS

Put simply, the results of two research studies by John Cottingham and Professor Stephen Porges show: 1) Rolfing significantly changes body structure, and 2) the structural changes created by Rolfing result in a significant reduction of stress. The research demonstrates clearly and consistently that Rolfmg does what Rolfers and Rolfed people have said for years: it changes body structure for the better and creates long-term stress reduction.

The structural changes the researchers measured were the reduction of the angle of pelvic inclination, or pelvic tilt (commonly called sway back). Since pelvic tilt or sway back is associated with certain kinds of back pain, the study strongly indicates that back problems can be improved through Rolfing. The structural changes produced by Rolfing were measured according to structural measurements and procedures developed by Physical Medicine.

The researchers used a Vagal Tone Monitor to measure the effects of Rolfing on stress. The vagal tone monitor is the proven and effective device for measuring many kinds of neurological and attention disorders. Most investigators of stress have proposed that chronic stress produces a dysfunction of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. Chronic stress produces chronic arousal of the sympathetic system. Reduction of stress occurs with increased activity of the parasympathetic system. The Vagal Tone Monitor measures parasympathetic activity. Using the Vagal Tone Monitor, the researchers were able to show that Rolfing significantly reduced stress by increasing parasympathetic activity. Even more impressive, the study implies that Rolfing significantly reduces stress long-term.

Rolfing appears to produce a long term relaxation response by changing structure and by increasing parasympathetic activity. The relaxation response is associated with lowered heart hate, easier breathing and increased attention span. In short, the relaxation response is associated with optimal neurological functioning.

The research thus indicates that Rolfing clearly and significantly changes body structure and enhances optimal neurological functioning.

The first article by Cottingham and Porges was published in Physical Therapy, a major American medical journal. The second article is currently being submitted to a major medical journal.Stress-Reduction Speaks to Media