Understanding Structural Integration

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 slide easily along each other. This helps to ensure that our bodies are well balanced and properly aligned. But, occasionally fascia can become diminished, for various reasons. If it occurs it can lead to serious body asymmetry, known as subluxation.

Subluxation of the fascia occurs when pressure builds up in one part of your body and does not move out to the place where it's supposed to be. For example, when you have chronic tension or prolonged stress in the throat, the subluxation can cause serious problems, leading to neck pain and headaches. The strain can lead to damage to the ligament that allows gravity to pull your nerve and result in headaches. This is the same basic principle as what happens when you put a slice of weight before 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 that involve the use of the head, shoulders, back, and neck. Because of 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 objective of Structural Integration is to remove or lessen the force which is exerted on the body by the weight shift from one place to another. If there is poor posture, the pressure on the musculoskeletal system is higher than optimal. This creates imbalances which lead to pain, stiffness, and other associated issues. 창원출장마사지 The various techniques of this therapy include the Application of Force, Application of Gravity, and Soft Stretching.

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

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

The third technique is the use of Gravity. The notion of Gravity entails an effective balance of resistance and compression between the bodywork and the individual parts. This is most commonly used in chiropractic manipulation, where the manipulation of the joints and the bones results in a decompression of the backbone, reducing the likelihood for further neck and shoulder stiffness and pain. Other common areas of Gravity practice include the diagnosis and treatment of 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 diploma 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 using gravity.

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