Get Email Updates from Google
Alexander Technique Treats Long Term Back Pain
Recent research carried out at Bristol and Southampton universities has shown that the Alexander Technique is effective at treating back pain. Back pain is the second biggest cause of sick leave in the UK, accounting for five million lost working days a year. About half the UK population suffers from back pain during a year with up to 15% going on to have chronic problems.
Head of research, Professor Debbie Sharp, said using the Alexander technique should provide help to most people with back pain.
“Lessons in the Alexander technique offer an individualised approach to develop skills that help people recognise, understand, and avoid poor habits affecting postural tone and neuromuscular coordination.
It can potentially reduce back pain by limiting muscle spasm, strengthening postural muscles, improving coordination and flexibility, and decompressing the spine.” – Professor Debbie Sharp
The research found that by the end of the study period, the Alexander patients suffered just three days back pain a month.
This compared to 21 days for those receiving GP care, which
tended to include regular consultations, pain killers and exercise
regimes for some, and 14 for those who had massages.
“There is little evidence available about the effectiveness of the Alexander technique so this research is welcome. The Alexander technique is something we do recommend and the feedback we have got is good. But I would say that it may not be effective for everyone. Back pain is different for each person and you often need a combination of things to help relieve it.” Dries Hettinga, Back Care.
The Alexander Technique Method
The Alexander Technique teacher provides verbal instructions while monitoring and guiding with hands-on assistance in order to help the student to change their previous physical habits. This specialized assistance requires Alexander teachers to demonstrate what they are attempting to communicate to the student. The Alexander Technique is considered to be an educational technique to be practised by the student on their own, rather than a curative treatment. It is designed to be used while doing any other activity, so there are no prescriptive forms or exercises recommended as a proscriptive separate practice time – with the exception of lying semi-supine as a recommended means of effective rest.
The English novelist Aldous Huxley was strongly influenced by F. M. Alexander and the Technique so much so that he included him as a character in the pacifist theme novel Eyeless in Gaza published in 1936.
Buy now:
From Stress To Freedom With The Alexander Technique by the Alexander Technique
Tweet Me!Recommended Reading
• Back Care Awareness Week October 4-10 – Tips for Managing Back Pain• 1 Rule to a Flat Stomach
• Madonna Stays in Shape With Ashtanga Yoga Workouts
• Health Warning: Paracetamol can cause asthma
• Obesity Will Cause a Cancer Epidemic for Future Generations
