British Medical Journal study shows Significant long-term benefit from Alexander Technique lessons
Long-term benefit from Alexander Technique lessons for low back pain has been demonstrated in a recent study published by the British Medical Journal.
A series of 24 lessons in the Alexander technique taught by registered teachers provides long term benefits for patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain. Both six lessons in the Alexander technique and general practitioner prescription for aerobic exercise with structured behavioural counselling by a practice nurse were helpful in the long term; classic massage provided short term benefit. Six lessons in the Alexander technique followed by exercise prescription was almost as effective as 24 lessons. predominantly chronic, severely affected, and cur- rently ineffectively managed population. All had attended primary care with back pain in the past— that is, the sample was a clinically relevant population. Since patients were required to be able to walk, we excluded those most severely disabled by pain. Adherence was good for both six and 24 lessons in the Alexander technique, and for massage compared with adherence in other back pain intervention trials...
The full article can be downloaded as a PDF from AUSTAT.
Last updated January 18, 2010 11:28 AM