Structural Integration is essentially the process of manipulating your body tissues created through the Dr. Harry W. Diehl, M.D. The term is often referred to as Computational Integration. Structural integration works by allowing tissues with different sizes and shapes to be combined in order to fit more precisely, increasing the resistance of these tissues to strain. The principle of structural integration was in use since before the dawn of moment, but it was discovered by Einstein (a pioneer of quantum theory) along with others. The concept was discovered by Hertz while experimenting using magnets. I’ve previously discussed this in an earlier article.
Let’s now look at how structural integration works in a real life example. Imagine that a person is on knees, with their elbows bent, massage web with her top foot facing the wall. This is the way it looks from the above. In the eyes of the naked eye each foot appears normal, but when looked at from below (towards the flooring) and the one which has the top of the elbow bent is seen to curve towards the back of the body – this is known as medial deviation of the physio’s line of sight. When we consider into consideration the force applied to the knee when the elbow is bent, we will see that there is a slight change in the lateral progress of fascia on the lower and upper sides of the knee. The result is pain.
What’s the most effective way to implement structural integration into your practice? This concept is taught in my EMS class. I provide a thorough explanation of how I do it. I also provide details on the anatomy as well as physiology information required by practitioners. First step when performing Structural Integration involves to make sure that the student is properly warmed up. In this instance I recommend starting by introducing slow, relaxed breathing exercises in order to soothe the nervous system, and aid the body in learning the techniques to „quiet“ the internal chatter that occurs when our body is at risk. As the student progresses through the EMS course, you may want to incorporate some other stretching exercises , or simply take your time and enjoy the ride. This is dependent on you.
After the student has been sufficiently warm, you can begin myofascial relaxing. According to my experience, the primary method to ease pain through Structural Integration is applying consistently pressure on a certain myofascial trigger point. Start with your feet, keeping the pain area light and relaxed; apply consistent pressure to each point by pressing firmly on the upper part of your heel, then sliding your hands upwards towards the elbow joint. Then, move them up towards the point of your wrist at its highest. This technique can be repeated on each wrist, finger and ankle.
This method isn’t designed to apply any pressure on any particular area. It is rather to bring movement to an area through myofascial connections. In this instance, the most important concept to grasp is that there exists a fascia or tensional system that is hyperactive is in existence that is hypersensitive for a variety of causes. It is this tensional network that is the real problem, and once it is effectively addressed with a regular procedure of Structural Integration and Physiotherapy, it will begin to heal itself.
The release of the fascia, an effective way to enhance mobility and range of motion, and also reduce inflammation, pain, and strength, particularly in the context of Structural Integration, is my favorite thing. Many students of mine are amazed to see immediate benefit after their first session. A lot of people are shocked by the immediate benefits they see immediately following the first session of structuring rolfing.
My experiences have shown me that the best way to bring a patient’s pain under control is to identify the pathways that cause pain and set up a specific program to address the issues. Remember: Functional imaging shows how a certain muscle or fascia’s location is. By applying the appropriate stimulation, we can view how this particular area of the body works and assist us to in treating it appropriately. A good structural integration practitioner is able to create a positive change with this particular situation. Practitioners must employ the fascial and tensional methods for treating the problem. The goal should be to heal the entire the fascia.
It is essential to keep in mind that applying manual therapy, like Pilates, is not designed to address structural imbalances. It’s intended to address the imbalances in movement. The goal is to mix actions that support proper movement with the ability to treat pain pathways to achieve this effectively. It will not just improve the way you move, but it will also tackle the source of discomfort: tensional and radiatal stiffening of your tissues of the joints.