New Study Provides Insights
How does the body change after a series of Rolfing sessions? A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine (Schleip et al., 2025) set out to answer this question – and found clear improvements in mobility, balance, and respiratory function.
More space for movement and breathing
Over a period of more than two decades, data from 563 participants were collected. All had completed the classical 10-series of Rolfing® Structural Integration. Before and after the sessions, hip and knee mobility were tested, trunk symmetry was measured, and chest expansion during breathing was recorded.
The outcome was striking. As the researchers report:
All parameters showed statistically significant improvements post-intervention.”
Rolfing® Structural Integration works with the fascia – the connective tissue structures that permeate the entire body. When their elasticity or coordination changes, this can affect posture, breathing, and mobility. The study discusses various possible mechanisms, ranging from improved fascial gliding to changes in muscle tone and body awareness.
The most noticeable changes were observed in three areas:
- Hip and knee joints became more mobile
- The trunk showed reduced asymmetries
- The rib cage expanded more fully during deep inhalation
Or, as the authors conclude:
Ten sessions of SI (Structural Integration) were associated with statistically significant improvements in lower limb mobility, trunk symmetry, and respiratory thoracic mobility.”
Conclusion
The analysis was retrospective and conducted without a control group, meaning that causal relationships cannot be firmly established. Nevertheless, the large dataset offers valuable impulses for further research. The authors summarise:
These findings support the role of SI in addressing postural and mobility-related dysfunctions through fascia-oriented mobilization.”
The study suggests that Rolfing® Structural Integration can help enhance mobility, improve body balance, and support respiratory function. This adds to the growing body of scientific evidence for a method that has been successfully applied in practice and training for decades.
Source: Read the full study: Robert Schleip, Helen James, Dr. Katja Bartsch, Eric Jacobsen, David Lesondak, Marilyn E. Miller (2025): “Influence of Rolfing Structural Integration on Lower Limb Mobility, Respiratory Thorax Mobility, and Trunk Symmetry: A Retrospective Cohort Study”, Journal of Clinical Medicine.
Author: Sabine Becker
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