14/10/2026
Session 2 of the Rolfing 10 series works directly in the shins. I have always thought it brought about a transformation beyond just an improvement in standing and walking, maybe this is part of the explanation for the extraordinary changes that can occur in this session.
Bone-Brain Axis: the Tibia & Traumatic Brain Injuries
“… using a small biomechanical device, they applied gentle, rhythmic compression to the animals' shinbones (tibias) for five days. This technique is called dynamic compressive tibial axial loading (DCTAL).
The results revealed a direct bone–brain axis. Applying mechanical pressure to the leg bones helped the brain heal after stroke and TBI while also improving movement and memory. In mice with TBI, DCTAL reduced brain cell loss, eased chronic inflammation and promoted the growth of new neurons. In severe brain injury models, bone compression also had a striking effect on survival, raising 14-day survival rates from 20% to 90%.”
“This study shows that the bone-brain axis works both ways: mechanical force on bone can tune its hormone-releasing function to boost brain repair after injury. If confirmed in clinical trials, a simple device that gently compresses the shinbone could become a rehabilitation tool for patients unable to exercise on their own.”
- by Sanjukta Mondal, Medical Xpress
Image: by Authors
