Rolfing for piriformis pain is a form of bodywork that can provide relief for some patients and conditions. Rolfing is unique in that it also addresses certain postural and anatomical alignment issues that might contribute to piriformis spasms.
Rolfing is a different form of hands-on treatment that is part assessment and part therapy. It is commonly used for piriformis complaints and some therapists even specialize in treating piriformis pain conditions. What makes Rolfing different than normal styles of massage and what advantages does this popular healing art provide?
This discussion provides insights to the use of Rolfing for piriformis pain syndromes. We will detail the pros and cons of treatment, as well as provide some recommendations for patients who are considering Rolfing care.
Rolfing for Piriformis Pain Benefits
Rolfing is a holistic form of care with no risks. It is healthy. Rolfing is non-pharmaceutical and does not entail and of the dangers of traditional medical care. This is a major selling point.
Rolfing is a specialty therapy that focuses on the soft tissues of the body. Since the piriformis muscle qualifies as such, it seems to be an ideal match for chronic and recurring pain problems in the tissue.
Rolfing is generally not continued long-term. Most care providers recommend a 10 session program to see how well the therapy will work before reassessing patients for continuing care. Some patients do not require more than a round or two of treatment to find complete relief.
Rolfing might provide additional health benefits, especially for patients with significant postural and anatomical alignment issues that may be causing more problems than just piriformis pain. Since Rolfing addresses the entire anatomy, a multitude of health issues might be treatable simultaneously.
Rolfing Downsides for Piriformis Syndrome
Rolfing will do nothing to undermine ischemia caused by a mindbody trigger mechanism. Unfortunately, this is a major cause of chronic and recurring piriformis pain. However, the therapy might still provide adequate symptomatic relief without any risk, so it is still worth consideration.
If a patient signs up for 10 sessions, but sees no relief, it can be a real waste of money. Rolfing is notoriously expensive compared to other forms of bodywork.
Rolfing can be rather unenlightened in some of its anatomical alignment theories. Some of these have been proven to be unscientific, although it is up to each care provider as to which techniques and theories to embrace, so this does not apply universally.
Some patients suffer temporary or lasting symptomatic escalation due to the direct manipulation involved in Rolfing treatment. This can be torturous and causes some patients to relinquish their monetary commitment to multiple sessions after only a single treatment, creating a huge financial loss.
Rolfing for Piriformis Pain Tips
Rolfing can be a great addition to a piriformis care program or possibly, even a singular cure. However, we provide the following warnings that can help patients to decide if Rolfing will fit their needs and if so, how to best protect themselves during treatment:
Do not commit to a multiple session program right away. Ask to try 1 or 2 sessions before any commitment. This way, you will have a better idea of the efficacy, benefits and downsides of treatment.
Be very wary of care providers who will not agree to the trial sessions suggested above. These people have probably made careers out of basically stealing money from clients who never even complete all their scheduled sessions.
Finally, be some independent research about Rolfing before making up your mind. Avoid the information sources created by individual Rolfing providers and their parent organizations, since these will not be impartial. Instead, focus on objective resources that will provide a realistic view of the therapy and contrast it against other options you might consider for treating your piriformis pain. All the sites of The Cure Back Pain Network certainly qualify in this regard.
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