Understanding Structural Integration

Structural Integration, also known as ASL, is a form of bodywork which focuses on the fascia, or ligament, of your body. Facia surrounds the muscles, tendons, vessels, nerves, and blood vessels, binding some skeletal structures together while allowing others to glide smoothly along each other. This helps to ensure that our bodies are well balanced and correctly aligned. But, occasionally fascia can become weakened, for various reasons. If it occurs it can lead to serious body asymmetry, called subluxation.

Subluxation of the fascia happens when pressure builds up in one part of the body and doesn't move out to the place where it is supposed to be. For instance, when you have chronic tension or prolonged stress at the neck, the subluxation may cause serious problems, resulting in neck pain and headaches. The strain can cause damage to the ligament that allows gravity to pull on your nerve and lead to headaches. This is the same basic principle as what happens when you put a piece of weight in front of a table and attempt to remove it.

Subluxation is an issue that most people have had or will have in their lives. Even if you don't suffer from chronic stress or tension, daily life presents many challenges which involve the use of their head, shoulders, back, and neck. Due to all these interactions, poor posture can develop and even manifest itself in many of ways. These problems can contribute to chronic back pain, headaches, neck pain, chronic pain in the shoulders, shortness of breath, poor balance and coordination, and much more.

The goal of Structural Integration is to remove or reduce the force that is exerted on the body by the weight shift from one position to another. If there is bad posture, the pressure on the musculoskeletal system is greater than optimal. This creates imbalances which lead to pain, stiffness, and other associated issues. The various techniques of the therapy include the Application of Force, Application of Gravity, and Soft Stretching.

The first technique of Structural Integration is what is known as the application of gravity. In order to perform this technique, a professional therapist will take a patient's position and adjust it in such a manner that forces are evenly distributed. This results in a reduction in both neck and shoulder pain, stiffness, and chronic stress. Patients find this form of integration to be very helpful in relieving their pain and reducing their risk for injury.

The next technique is tender stretching, also called RFD. When there is poor posture, the RFD technique addresses both stiffness and poor flexibility of the muscles and connective tissues that support the body. The connective tissues are lengthened and strengthened by the stretching exercises, which are then supported by the bodywork. In addition, once the fascia is lengthened, there is decreased friction between the muscle fibers, thereby lessening the chance for additional strain and injury.

The next technique is the use of Gravity. The concept of Gravity entails an effective balance of compression and resistance between the bodywork and the individual pieces. This is most commonly utilized in chiropractic manipulation, where the manipulation of the joints and the bones leads to a decompression of the backbone, reducing the likelihood for further neck and shoulder pain and stiffness. Other common regions of Gravity practice include the diagnosis and treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), or osteoarthritis of the knee or knee, and Facet Arthropathy or Facet Syndrome. In the event of osteoarthritis of the knee or knee, rolfing techniques like the application of gravity can decrease stiffness and pain.

So as to use the concepts of structural integration correctly, a certified massage therapist must master both the principles of rolfing and the use of gravity. A series of tests and examinations is necessary for certification by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). To become a certified massage therapist, an individual must demonstrate a two-year degree from an accredited massage therapy school, as well as pass state certification exams. Individuals who are looking to start a career in the field of massage therapy may be wise to learn both the fundamentals of rolfing and the use of gravity.