Jason, fifty-five, was suffering from pain in both hips, which had become arthritic. He had been very athletic most of his life, running and playing basketball and tennis. He had been told by a physician that he may be facing a hip replacement as his condition had been degenerating over several years—particularly in the right hip.

He sought the help of Bridget Beck, a Rolfer in Santa Rosa, California, who gave him the standard series of ten Rolfing sessions. Beck observed that he had an external rotation of the right leg (turning outward), a rotation of the pelvis, and an unequal distribution of weight on his legs. The rotator muscles in his buttocks were chronically tight in order to support this pattern and all of this resulted in more stress to the hip joints.

The Rolfing balanced the pelvis and brought the right leg back into alignment with the hip joint to allow more proper tracking through the motion of the joint. His weight became properly distributed over both legs.

He also gained more flexibility and balance to all the segments of his body. He reported greater ease of movement, more vitality, and reduction in hip joint pain to where he was able to return to sports activity. At one point he asked if he might be misusing the Rolfing by becoming so active again.

"One, I stand, walk, and run with my body weight much more eevenly distributed over my feet.  Before Rolfing, I naively hoped to feel the most improvement in my climbing muscles -- shoulders and forearms.  Now, however, I'm in love with my body weight's new balance.

Two, my shoulders are dropped and my torso sits more squarely over my pelvis.  not only does this create the classic "better posture" look, but the redction in overall tension in my upper body, which I started to feel just three sessions into the series, is remarkable.

Add looser forearms that absorb shock better, take away the tendinitis in my left knee -- it's gone because I'm wobbling less on the leg now -- and I'm a satisfied customer.

Let me emphasize that it's all pretty subtle.  Getting Rolfed wasn't a magical rebirth.  I still catch myself hunching over my computer.  But after a long day at work or a hard bouldering session, and thanks in part to a heightened awareness of my alignment and frequent breaks to move around a nd stretch, I don't hurt."