Rolfing And Chiropractic Care: Explaining The Differences And Why You Want Both

A new approach to muscular pain is making its way into offices across the U.S. It is known as rolfing, and no, it is not the eighties reference to vomiting. It is actually a soft-tissue manipulation method to ease pain. Here is how it is different from chiropractic care, why you would want both types of treatment, and why some chiropractors are also certified rolfers.

Rolfing

Rolfing differs from chiropractic care in that rolfing addresses all of the soft tissues of the body, including muscles and muscle structure. The manipulation of these soft tissues helps release lactic acid and tension, and it aids in the proper repositioning of muscles that have slipped out of their normal position. Deeper pressure is applied than is commonly used in massage, which is what some people confuse rolfing with. Only a trained rolfer is allowed to practice and apply rolfing techniques to clients.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care also manipulates parts of the body, but chiropractic care is more concerned with the skeletal structure and its effects on the nervous system. Adjustments to the bones of the body have to be applied carefully to avoid injury.  A chiropractor has several years of training with a focus on anatomy and physiology. Most adjustments relieve pain by relieving pressure on nerves and realigning the skeleton and spine. To learn more about the services that chiropractors can provide, check out websites like http://www.wildingchiropractic.com.

Why You Should Want Both Rolfing and Chiropractic Care

These two alternative medicine disciplines are very complementary. While chiropractors adjust spines and skeletal structure, rolfers adjust muscles and soft tissues. When you have both as part of your pain-management plan, you may not experience any pain at all because everything that could be the source of your pain will be addressed and treated. Forward-thinking chiropractors are now acquiring certification as rolfers too so that they can provide a full range of pain-relieving therapy services.

Why Some Chiropractors Are Certified Rolfers

Besides having the ability to offer clients both rolfing and chiropractic services, chiropractors learn a lot more about how muscles and skeletal structure can work together when these systems are "worked" together. It benefits them, their practice, and their clients when they learn both disciplines and apply them in the same office. Since rolfing is an extra one- to two-year program beyond chiropractic school, it is not that difficult to complete the extra education and get the extra certification either. If you would like to try rolfing and you already receive chiropractic care, ask your chiropractor if he/she practices rolfing or knows someone who does.