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 glide smoothly along each other. This helps to make certain that our bodies are well balanced and properly aligned. But, occasionally fascia can become diminished, for various reasons. If this occurs it can lead to serious body asymmetry, called subluxation.

Subluxation of the fascia occurs when pressure builds up in 1 part of your body and does not move out to the location where it is supposed to be. By way of instance, when you have chronic tension or prolonged stress at the neck, the subluxation may cause serious problems, resulting in neck pain and headaches. The strain can lead to damage to the ligament which allows gravity to pull on your nerve and lead to headaches. This is the exact same basic principle as what happens when you put a slice of weight in front of a table and try to remove it.

Subluxation is an issue that most people have had or will have in their own lives. Even if you do not suffer from chronic stress or tension, daily life presents many challenges which involve using their head, shoulders, back, and neck. Due to all these interactions, poor posture can develop and even manifest itself in a number of ways. These problems can give rise 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 eliminate or reduce the force which is exerted on the body by the weight change from one position to another. If there is poor posture, the force on the musculoskeletal system is greater than optimal. This creates imbalances which lead to stiffness, pain, and other related issues. The various techniques of the therapy include the Application of Force, Application of Gravity, and Soft Stretching.

The first technique of Structural Integration is what's known as the use of gravity. In order to perform this technique, a professional therapist will take a patient's posture and adjust it in such a way that forces are evenly dispersed. This leads to a reduction in both neck and shoulder pain, stiffness, and chronic stress. Patients find this kind of integration to be quite effective in relieving their pain and reducing their risk for harm.

The second technique is tender stretching, also called RFD. When there is poor posture, the RFD technique addresses both stamina 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, when the fascia is lengthened, there is diminished friction between the muscle fibers, thus lessening the chance for additional strain and injury.

The third technique is the application of Gravity. The notion of Gravity entails an effective balance of compression and resistance 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 pain and stiffness. Other common regions 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 case of osteoarthritis of the knee or hips, rolfing techniques such as the application of gravity can decrease stiffness and pain.

In order to apply the concepts of structural integration correctly, a certified massage therapist must master both the principles of rolfing and the application of gravity. A series of tests and assessments is necessary for certification by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). To become a certified massage therapist, an individual must demonstrate a two-year degree from an accredited massage therapy school, in addition to pass state certification examinations. Individuals who want to begin a career in the field of massage therapy can be wise to learn both the fundamentals of rolfing and the use of gravity.