The Alexander Technique for Back Pain?

By The New York Times

A recent study in the British Medical Journal BMJ found that the Alexander technique, a noninvasive method of adjusting body postures to relieve stresses, may aid in the treatment of back pain. New York Times reader Karen G. Krueger of New York City had some questions about that research. We contacted Paul Little, professor of primary care research at the U.K.’s University of Southampton and lead author of the BMJ study. I have found that very few medical professionals in this country know about the Alexander technique; I myself found it through a friend in the arts — the technique is widely taught in music conservatories and drama schools as a means of enhancing performance and avoiding injury. What can you tell readers about the Alexander technique and how it works? The Alexander technique involves a teacher using both gentle hand contact and verbal instruction to help patients learn to become aware of and avoid harmful habits of muscle use which may cause and maintain pain. The Alexander technique is not a form of back exercise -– rather it is applied in everyday tasks like standing, walking, sitting at a desk or playing a musical instrument. We hypothesize that the Alexander technique works through release of tension, decompression of the spine, more balanced muscle activity and improved flexibility. In what circumstances should a back pain patient pursue the Alexander technique (with or without an exercise program) as opposed to other, more invasive approaches, such as medication or surgery? I would recommend any patient try the technique before more invasive interventions; that is, patients with chronic or recurrent functional back pain where there are no clear “red flags,” such as progressive or multilevel neurological symptoms, steroid use or a recent history of trauma. Have your studies demonstrating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Alexander technique to treat back pain increased the profile and availability of the technique to patients in Britain? I think the profile has improved but not hugely — the medical establishment is inevitably slow and cautious about recommending new interventions when they perceive them to be novel. The medical research establishment in the United States has begun to study various alternative health practices to address back pain and other chronic conditions for which traditional medical approaches have had limited success. What can you say about other “alternative” therapies for back pain? There is encouraging evidence in the short term for massage and yoga and also some evidence for acupuncture, and for chiropractic when combined with exercise regimens. In terms of “alternative therapies” for back pain, try and use something that is based in good research evidence. The Alexander technique has been around for many years. New York Times Personal Health columnist Jane E. Brody wrote about the technique back in 1990. To learn more about the latest research on the Alexander technique and see a video of the practice, visit the BMJ site.

“Jeg ville ønske at jeg kunne skrue tiden tilbage til dengang jeg ikke havde ondt i ryggen”

Dette er en udtalelse man til tider høre som Lærer i Alexanderteknik. 

At have ondt I ryggen er noget der rammer de fleste før eller siden. 

Lige med et kan ens bevæge apparat forandre sig og man må begynde at tage hensyn som f.eks ikke at løfte. 

Men vi er desværre ikke skabt til at være så mange timer i de arbejdsstillninger som vi byder os selv. 

Så vær ikke fortvivlet.. 

I sidste ende kommer vi alle til at bruge tid på vores ryg.

HANS AND MY NECK_

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— bcnsound@ 12:47 pm

It´s almost a year since my accident, so I thought I would add an update on my progress…

For those who don´t know, I was in a traffic accident near Florence, Italy, in April 2006. We were hit from behind while stationary in a queue on a motorway…

I was lucky to survive, as I was sitting in the back left of the car, and I broke a bone in my neck, high up in the spinal column. It is called the “hangman´s break” and is similar to the damage that Cristopher Reeve, the star of Superman, suffered when he fell of his horse and ended up in a wheelchair totally paralysed. They told me that actually I could have easily died, as damage to the spinal cord that high can easily kill you…I still dont remember anything from the accident (I look at these fotos like you do, like I wasn´t there…). I think it will be a permenant memory loss.

I was very lucky that I was treated by a great team of surgeons in Florence, who put a titanium pin in my neck and got me on my feet. After months on my back I started to return to normal life. I have clicks and pops in my neck, which look like they are permanent, it hurts a lot in the cold, my movement is more restricted, but I am alive…

We also lost our dog, as she ran away from the site of the accident in shock, and was never found. that hurts almost as much as my neck…

…………………………………

While I was recovering, I met a great Danish musician called Hans Landgreen, who is also a teacher of the Alexander Technique.

The technique teaches you to retrain your posture, and I have been taking a series of classes to help me recover and also to help me prevent bad habits from sitting in a studio all day. I have been quite amazed by the changes Hans has brought about, helping me to correct bad habits in my posture, that are so strong that they feel “right” even though you are doing yourself damage!

Imagine how we all slump into a sofa, it feels good, but after a while it hurts as it is clearly not good for you. your own body lies to you!!

Thanks to the help of Hans, and combined with my own heightened sense of incorrect posture (my neck compains instantly if I sit funny) I have been able to start to retrain myself for the better. To be honest, the Alexander technique has been nothing short of a revelation for me….no exageration.

Here are some links…

Hans Landgreen´s website

More info on the Alexander technique

So…now I am getting better, working, living with the grateful sensation that I can walk..and now I have new weapons against the awful postures that modern life, and computers, push us all to adopt….So remember - free your neck! you have no idea how tense you are throughout your body until you get someone to point it out. Think of the loose, bouncey body you had as a kid. you can recover that…just speak to Mr Hans…