Alexander technique, exercise combo may ward off chronic back pain
London, Aug 20 : A technique of relaxation developed more than 100 years along with
an exercise programme can offer long-term effective treatment for chronic back pain,
according to a new study.
The age-old 'Alexander' technique involves a personalised approach to help patients
develop lifelong skills for self care to improve postural tone and muscular
coordination.
It is an educational technique taught to be practiced by patients on their own and is
not a form of exercise.
The research team from the University of Southampton and the University of Bristol
recruited 579 patients with chronic or recurrent back pain from 64 general practices in
the south and west of England.
Patients were randomised assigned to receive normal care, massage, six Alexander
technique lessons, or 24 Alexander technique lessons.
Half of the patients from each of the groups were also prescribed an exercise programme
(brisk walking for 30 minutes per day five times a week)
Previous studies have shown that Alexander technique along with massage relieves back
pain for a brief time.
After one year, Paul Little and his team found that exercise combined with lessons in
the Alexander technique significantly reduced pain and improved functioning whereas
massage offered little benefit after three months.
The patients receiving Alexander technique lessons reported fewer days with back pain
over the past four weeks, while patients receiving normal care reported 21 days of back
pain,
Those who received 24 lessons of Alexander technique experienced 18 fewer days of pain
and those who had six lessons reported 10 fewer days of pain and those having massage said
they had seven fewer days of pain.
"Massage is helpful in the short term...[but] the Alexander technique retained
effectiveness at one year...the results should apply to most patients with chronic or
recurrent back pain," the British Medical Journal quoted researchers, as saying.
Moreover patients receiving Alexander technique lessons reported improved quality of
life.
Six one-to-one lessons in the Alexander technique followed by exercise had 72 percent
benefit 24 lessons in the Alexander technique alone.
--ANI
