Alexander Technique shown to help those with back pain
A new report has suggested that the Alexander Technique can provide long-term benefits to people with chronic or recurrent low back pain.
According to researchers from Southampton University, who published their findings in the online version of the British Medical Journal, there was no previous conclusive evidence that the physical movement discipline, which focuses on self-perception of movement, helped people with back pain.
The new study involved 579 patients, some of which were offered Alexander Technique lessons, while others were given massages or just normal GP care.
Half of the patients in each group were also prescribed 30 minutes of brisk walking or the equivalent each day and behavioural counselling from a practice nurse.
It was found that those who attended the longest course in the Alexander Technique showed significant improvements in function, quality of life and a reduction in the number of days the patients suffered pain.
After one year, those who had been taught the Alexander Technique typically saw a 42 per cent reduction in the number of activities that were limited by back pain.
It was also shown that massage was effective but that its improvements did not last a significant amount of time.
"The results of this study revealed that the Alexander Technique can help back pain; it probably does this by limiting muscle spasm, strengthening postural muscles, improving co-ordination and flexibility and decompressing the spine," explained Professor Paul Little.
A spokesman for the Arthritis Research Campaign welcomed the study's findings. "Chronic back pain is a huge problem, and there are no easy solutions to alleviating it," he said.
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