Study Shows Alexander Technique Helps Relieve Chronic Back Pain
A study published in the British Medical Journal (2008;337:a884) focused on the long term effects of the Alexander Technique on reducing chronic back pain. Researchers at the University of Southampton and the University of Bristol enrolled 579 adults with chronic back pain in a year-long study. Four groups were created comparing the effectiveness of massage, Alexander Technique and standard medical care : (1)144 received standard medical care under a General Practitioner; (2) 147 received massage; (3) 147 received six Alexander Technique Lessons; and (4) 144 received twenty-four Alexander Technique lessons. Half of the subjects in each of the groups were also randomized to an aerobic exercise such as walking.
At enrollment, the trial population had reported on the average 243 days of pain in the previous year. At the one-year follow-up, the patients who had taken a course of 24 Alexander Technique lessons, showed a 86% reduction in the number of days of pain compared with the control group. Those who only had six Alexander Technique lessons showed a 48% reduction in the number of days of pain.