Rolfing & Running: Healing Injuries

Can you imagine running 2-10 miles a few times a week with absolutely no pain?

Historically, running was necessary for our ancestors to obtain food as well as to avoid becoming someone else’s food. Today, tribes such as the Mexican Tarahumara Indians wear simple shoes fashioned from car tires and are able to cover 400 miles over several days.

Running Injuries

Running injuries are common and often keep us off the road. Foot injuries often associated with running include heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendonitis. With each of these problems, pain & inflammation signal that the foot is not working well.

The foot has 26 bones, 56 ligaments, 38 muscles, and 3 arches on each side. In running, the foot makes thousands of subtle adjustments as we move through the many phases of gait. Optimally the impact of running is evenly distributed amongst the bones, ligaments, and muscles of each foot. The arches of the feet work as shock absorbers. Healthy feet provide a foundation of support for the body to function well within the gravitational field.

Foot injuries and pain often cause stiffness and rigidity within the body. Long after the initial wound has healed, the stiffness remains and can take residence in the structure. Constrictions within the foot can travel upwards and set the stage for secondary problems such as back pain.

How does Rolfing help?

Rolfers work to create a balance of tension throughout the structure, restore elasticity to the tissue, and improve the overall biomechanics. As the mobility and alignment of the foot and ankle improve, the entire body becomes more resilient.

When these structural issues are sorted out, you can actually run without pain and with increased efficiency. This leads to better timing, fewer injuries, and generally more enjoyment while running.

“A man’s tracks tell quite a true story. They inform quietly about ankles and knees, but they shout the news about hips and pelvis. If one foot is consistently exerted [tilted onto its inner edge], the ankle, the knee, or, perhaps more likely, the entire pelvic basin is rotated.”- Ida P. Rolf

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By Rebekah Frome • Rolfing • • Tags: Rolfing For Runners

Surfer,Girl,On,Surfboard.,Surfer,And,Wave

Acupuncture & Surfing: Treating Injuries

Athletes are prone to injuries, including ankle sprains, tendonitis, and repetitive strain. Surfer’s have some unique challenges. Before surfer’s can catch a wave they paddle to it. Sometimes, it takes as many as 70 strokes to reach the wave. Paddling requires surfers to lay prone on their board, arching their back. This static posture makes neck, and low back problems particularly common amongst surfers. Surfers also struggle with shoulder and knee problems.

That’s where acupuncture helps.

Each of these sports injuries has common features that I address using acupuncture.

1.   Inflammation
2.   Pain
3.   Muscle spasm
4.   Loss of mobility

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury. Armies of white blood cells are sent to the injured area to protect and repair the damaged tissue. Swelling impairs circulation of energy and fluids; this leads to pain. In turn, pain causes muscle spasm, which causes a loss of mobility. Ultimately, rigor-mortis set in.

All injuries, whether recent or ancient, cause energy to become trapped, stagnant and blocked. Acupuncture restores the flow of energy to the injured area. I typically use acupuncture points that are far away from an injury (distal points) to remove the energetic block, improve blood flow and reduce pain. As the muscle spasm subsides, mobility is restored. Acupuncture restores your mobility. Acupuncture taps the body’s innate ability to heal.

Also Read:

Does Rolfing benefit dancers?

Rolfing benefits for runners

By David Frome • Acupuncture, Physical Therapy • • Tags: acupuncture, Surfing Injuries

Drawing of man with arms out streatched - DaVinci influenced

What is Rolfing? And What is Structural Integration?

Rolfing is actually a slang term coined during the ’70s. Dr. Rolf, the founder, wanted her work to be known as “Structural Integration.” She was one of the first women biochemists to graduate from Columbia University in the 1920s.

Many people do not know what Rolfing is. This powerful treatment helps you to stand taller, breathe more fully, and move with greater ease.

Our bodies store years of accumulated stress, surgeries, and injuries. Rolfing de-stresses the body with fascial manipulation. Fascia, a form of connective tissue determines our posture and movement.

Picture yourself breathing more fully and moving with greater ease. Rolfing helps you to feel stable and connected to the ground while providing your body with a sense of lightness and upward lift. Additionally, Rolfing is calming to the nervous system, leaving you with a sense of peace.

By Rebekah Frome • Physical Therapy, Rolfing • • Tags: connective tissue, fascia, Ida Rolf, posture, rolfing, stress, structural integration

Chart of hormonal changes in women's monthly cycles- shows fluctuations of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone.

Can Acupuncture Help with Hormones?

Women’s menstrual cycles are directly related to a series of changes of three key hormones: estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. In the first two weeks of the cycle, estrogen and testosterone rise significantly. This can result in an increase of social interest and libido.

Following ovulation, estrogen and testosterone plunge, progesterone rises. As estrogen levels fall, there is a concurrent drop in serotonin, which is closely related to mood regulation. This change helps to explain why in the third week of a women’s cycle, there may be an increase of irritability, an increase in appetite and a decrease of social interest, libido and sleep.

During the fourth week, estrogen and testosterone plunge. It is at this time that some women experience PMS.

Hormonal imbalances are not an uncommon problem for women. Health challenges including migraines, infertility, irregular periods, sleep problems, irritability, and, hair loss are often linked to a hormonal imbalance.

Acupuncture is an important tool that can help regulate hormonal imbalances for both sexes. My studies with Kiiko Matsumoto, Japanese acupuncturist have helped me develop a comprehensive approach to supporting hormonal balance.

During palpation, discomfort from slight pressure applied to reflex point shows me which hormonal systems are out of balance. For example, a person that has chronic exhaustion could be suffering from an adrenal imbalance or a thyroid problem. With the use of palpation, I can find which system is out of balance. As the treatment progresses I use the reflex points to monitor progress. As a Five Element Acupuncturist, my goal is to resolve these issues by treating the whole person, not just the symptom. Regular treatments lead to increased vitality and health.

The contents in this article are not meant to be diagnostic or prescriptive. Women’s hormonal problems are often complex and a physician should always be consulted before choosing a course of treatment.

By David Frome • Acupuncture • • Tags: acupuncture, adrenal imbalance, estrogen, hormonal balance, Hormonal Health, menstrual cycle, PMS, progesterone, serotonin, testosterone, thyroid problem

Your Birth Experience and Rolfing

How does our birth experience influence our personality? Does it matter if we travel down the birth canal or if we are born via a C section? Many Rolfers believe that we are shaped by our early experiences, including childbirth.

Even when childbirth goes smoothly, the journey from being inside a mother’s womb to being out in the world is challenging. When the baby is in utero, she is in a protected environment, safely embraced. As the fetus grows and develops, a pattern of flexion emerges. The chin is tucked, and the arms and legs are drawn into the body as the uborn baby prepares for the trip to the outside world.

When the fetus experiences difficulty or trauma during gestation or in childbirth, Rolfers and other somatic therapists believe the body stores these experiences in the tissue. These tissue “memories” can become part of the physical structure of the infant.

Whether the birth goes smoothly and without complications, or if it is more challenging, all newborn babies have a dominance of flexor tone that keeps the arms and legs flexed, head tucked in and spine curled. Ideally, as the baby matures, the flexor tone recedes, but this is not always the case.

Rolfing is a remarkable tool for mitigating all kinds of trauma. Trauma, whether emotional or physical creates fascial shortenings in the structure. The body remembers traumatic experiences. Rolfers use gentle pressure to release shortenings in the tissue. As the body lengthens, the heart opens and the baby becomes more comfortable in its own skin. Changes from Rolfing are both physical and emotional.

In our experience, a small amount of input goes a long way with newborn babies. We have Rolfed newborn children with the gentlest touch and watched the body unfold – Rolfing eases the infant’s way into the world. We also Rolf children with neurologic and developmental challenges including Cerebral Palsy and genetic disorders. Minor issues resolve easily, while complicated problems often require more input.

Is there an appropriate age to begin Rolfing? Rolfing is suitable for newborn babies and throughout life. It is always a good time to receive this healing touch.

By David Frome • Physical Therapy, Rolfing • • Tags: birth, birth experience, childbirth, developmental challenges, fascial shortenings, fetus, flexion, infant, personality, rolfing, somatic therapists, tissue memories, trauma