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Rolfing for Arthritic Hip Joints by Keith Graham

Certified Advanced Rolfer & Rolf Movement practitioner, Keith Graham, shares this interesting case study where he has helped a woman with arthritis.

Keith reports:

Phyllis first came to me in early 2014 for help with her arthritic hip pain, her main goal being to avoid the hip surgery that her medical consultant was recommending.

I initially took Phyllis through the first six sessions of the classic Rolfing ten series and then with some small improvement in her overall flexibility, my client decided to take a break. Six weeks later Phyllis resumed Rolfing treatments with me; she had decided that of all the therapies that she had tried, Rolfing had produced the best results.

We continued for another 13 sessions during which time, my overall goal was to keep the whole body aligned and balanced in gravity while continuing to gradually break down fascial layers in the pelvis and legs, using Rolfing connective tissue manipulation until I could reach the deep adhesions surrounding the hip joint.

One of the major challenges to overcome when someone has been in pain for a long time is habitual muscle tightening around the damaged joint. This is caused by the nervous system’s fight or flight response and I have found that a combination of MET (muscle energy techniques), Neuromodulation therapy and gentle Rolf Movement is very effective in calming this automatic response. The result was that Phyllis began to experience significantly less pain and a more normal range of movement of the femur in the hip joint.

Having made steady progress during this second series, the rate of improvement again reached a plateau.  At this point, it seemed sensible to take another break.

We resumed work in early 2015, and over the first few months of the year made several significant breakthroughs, with marked improvement in Phyllis’ range of movement and further reduction of pain levels.

This has been a very interesting and enlightening experience for me as a practitioner.  It has shown, as Ida Rolf demonstrated, that although for most, the classic ten hours of Rolfing can bring remarkable changes to alignment, range of movement and mental/emotional outlook, for clients with more complex issues, the method can still be effective but more time is needed.

Admittedly, this has been an exceptionally long treatment period taking perhaps 30 hours to achieve the desired results. Weighed against this however my client now has a better posture, is out of pain and has achieved her goal which was to avoid hip surgery.

I am enormously grateful to my client for her faith in both Rolfing and me, for her persistence and for her generous financial commitment to the process.

We are now working patiently with an arthritic shoulder, and with only occasional work on her hips, they remain pain-free and mobile.

For more information, contact Keith Graham at [email protected].  

You can also find a Certified Rolfer near you here.

Keith Graham

Keith Graham

Locations

Surrey

4, College Hill
Haslemere
GU27 2JH

4, College Hill
Haslemere
GU27 2JH

Castle St Clinic
36-37 Castle St
Guildford
GU1 3UQ

Castle St Clinic
36-37 Castle St
Guildford
GU1 3UQ

London

Light Centre Clapham
151-153 Clapham High St
London
SW4 7SS

Light Centre Clapham
151-153 Clapham High St
London
SW4 7SS

Isle of Wight

The Life Centre
15 Edge street
London, W8 7PN
The Life Centre
15 Edge street
London, W8 7PN

Languard Manor
Landguard Road
Shanklin
Isle of Wight
PO37 7JB

Languard Manor
Landguard Road
Shanklin
Isle of Wight
PO37 7JB

Contact Details

Certifications

h
Certified Advanced Rolfer & Rolf Movement Practitioner
Fascial Fitness Trainer
Rossiter Stretching Coach
OMT Advanced Spinal Manipulation
Senior Instructor & Hon Vice President Tai Chi Union GB

About Me

My clients come to me for a wide variety of reasons;

  • children for help with growing,
  • sports people and dancers to improve performance or speed recovery from injury,
  • busy people for help with the effects of stress
  • And those seeking relief from pain or who just want to to feel at home in their body

As a long-time student of Tai Chi, I (hope) I have developed a sensitivity and an understanding of how to work with the subtle energies in the body.
As a Rossiter stretching coach, I am also able to work with heavier clients or highly toned athletes such as rugby players and martial artists who may need a strong touch.
As an Advanced Rolfer, I have learned to see and feel which approach is appropriate and to encourage each person I see to move towards balance and freedom.
As a Fascial Fitness Trainer, I try to empower my clients with specific exercise programs so that they can maintain optimum Fascial Health long after their treatments with me have been completed

To be at one with the flow of the universe
we must be fully open to new possibilities.
Loose and adaptable to the demands of each new moment.
Able to move comfortably and with confidence in our own skins.
Liberated from gravity’s shackling ties and yet knowing
with absolute certainty where we stand.
Only then are we truly free to follow our heart’s desires.
Equally at home reaching for the stars
or simply abiding in the deep stillness at the core of our being.