ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE

A large piece of medical research has proved what the Alexander Technique world has known for decades:

“Lessons in the Alexander Technique have long term benefits for chronic back pain”

British Medical Journal 19 August 2008.

The research project was carried out through researchers at the Universities of Southampton and Bristol.  Fifty eight Alexander Technique teachers with at least three years experience were provided through the Society of Alexander Technique Teachers (STAT). 

The research project divided 579 patients with chronic back pain from 64 GP Practices into four groups.  The first group was the control who received standard GP care, the second group received regular massage (touch with a non educational content), and the third and fourth groups received 6 and 24 Alexander Technique Lessons respectively.

The research outcomes included a finding that those who received 24 individual lessons experienced only 3 days pain per month, compared with 11 days in patients who had received 6 lessons, 14 days in the group who had regular massage and 21 days in those given standard GP care (painkillers often coupled with exercise).