Last weekend I attended a class on a scar tissue integration technique which was developed by Sharon Wheeler, a student of Ida Rolf. I was lucky enough to be in the first class that was offered outside the Rolfing community. Sharon Wheeler's team is in the process of creating a web site and supporting documentation and I will include that once I receive it. Below is my testimonial regarding the class. If you are interested in learning more, please contact jeannie@rolfmethod.com.
"I was most impressed by the difference Sharon Wheeler's scar work made in two women who had had breast reconstruction after cancer.
Both women had areas of tissue in their breast and abdomen that felt thick, fibrous and tough. In both cases the surgeons had taken skin and fat tissue from the abdomen to use in the reconstruction. In one woman the surgeon had also relocated muscle tissue from the abdomen to the breast. Both women had resulting abdominal hernias. In one woman fibrous scar tissue (about 4"x 5" and about 1/2" thick) was adhered to the lateral ribs, impairing lung expansion. In the other woman, scar tissue in the axilla was preventing her from fully extending her arm over head. Both women had had a series of surgeries ranging from 18 months prior to as recent as 6 weeks.
During the class, Wheeler's techniques were used to 'work' the surface scars and underlying tissue. At the end of each woman's 90 minute session they both had the same reaction saying 'It feels like me again!' The underlying tissue felt normal and pliable. Both women regained full range of motion. The junctions of the scars seem to lie flatter and were closer in color to the surrounding skin. Both women reported increased sensation in areas that had previously been numb. Knowing that these changes restored much of the tissue to normal function permanently was truly satisfying.
Sharon Wheeler's scar work is gentle, easy to learn, quick to perform, produces measurable results and makes permanent changes. This is a paradigm shift: The fibrous collagen of scars, which often feels hard, often restricts motion and sometimes interferes with nerve function, can be easily loosened and integrated into surrounding normal tissue. I envision that Wheeler's techniques will be routinely used by body workers, physical therapists and doctors. I have already started to integrate the techniques into my chiropractic practice." - Kelley LeBlanc, D.C.
