Forward – Last year Owen Marcus, the Rolf Institute, and Arizona State University initiated a study of the effects of Rolfing on running economy and running mechanics. The subjects were members of the ASU running team. The research was carried out by a graduate student, James A. Walker, M.S. under the direction of Dr. Christine Wells. The Spring 1989 issue of Rolf Lines carried a summary of the study written by Walker and Wells at Owen’s request.Some members of the Institute were disappointed with the results of the study be-cause no statistical differences were noted between the Rolfed and control subjects. On the other hand, the Rolf Institute Research Committee was encouraged by the results because much information was obtained that will be invaluable in our future investigations.Like any serious research endeavor, our inquiry into Rolfing must begin with what scientists call a “stamp collecting” phase. In this phase, we try some of the obvious and standard measurement techniques to see what we can learn about the subject of interest. We initiate these studies in full anticipation of demonstrating dramatic results, yet the seasoned scientist knows at the outset that there may be disapointment at first; that the measures used may not have been the optimal choices; that there may be another way to pose the question.One comment I have heard repeatedlyis that the Institute’s Research Committee failed to properly monitor the project and that our funding should have been withdrawn when it was realized that the anticipated results were not being obtained. This attitude is inappropriate. It would un-ethical to withdraw committed support for a graduate student’s project because we did not like the results. Not only would this be devastating to our relationship with the university, but it would establish that the Rolf Institute is unwilling to carry out objective research. In this study, as in all other re-search, we must be willing to work with the outcome, regardless of whether it suits our interests. When a Rolfer works with a client, things do not always turn out the way you expect, and you learn from the experience. So it is with research.Owen Marcus has written the following valuable summary of how he sees the results of the running project from his perspective as a Rolfer. His comments deserve careful thought and study as we formulate future research projects. In particular, we must think carefully about the paradox of using standard reductionist measurements to document a whole system change.James Oschman, Ph.D.
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