Healing Hands: 9 Massage Techniques That May Improve Your Health

The right type can help treat conditions from chronic pain to PMS (11 Photos)

Marissa Capodanno on Aug 16, 2010 at 12:50PM

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Healing Hands: 9 Massage Techniques That May Improve Your Health

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Rolfing



"You know how when you get in a car accident and bend the frame on your car, you have to take it to the auto body shop to get it straightened out? That's what Rolfing® practitioners do for the human body," says Carole LaRochelle, a Certified Advanced Rolfer™ in the San Francisco Bay area. LaRochelle says the Rolfing method isn’t really a type of massage, but a process that emphasizes alignment, manipulating connective tissue to rebalance the body and bring relief from chronic pain, stress and injury. According to a UCLA study, subjects reported significant decreases in anxiety after Rolfing sessions. Rolfing should be avoided, though, by those with acute intervertebral disc problems or broken bones, women in their first trimester of pregnancy, and those recovering from surgery. If you have concerns, consult your physician first.

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