Alexander technique beats massage for back pain
Publication Date:20/08/2008
According to a new study, the Alexander technique, which teaches good posture and relaxed movement, could offer relief for people with back pain. The study proved that, in the long run, the Alexander technique helped more than massage, but we don't know if it's better or worse than other kinds of exercise, like physiotherapy or yoga.
What do we know already?
Back pain is a very common problem. More than 7 in 10 people experience back pain at some point in their lives.
For lots of people, back pain can last a long time. It's often a frustrating problem because there's no quick cure, although painkillers and exercise programmes can help.
People used to be told to rest in bed if they had a bad back, but doctors now think it's much better to stay active.
The Alexander technique teaches people how to keep good posture and release tension in their muscles. It's often taught one-on-one, and focuses on the teacher trying to correct the student's bad habits, rather than teaching a particular set of exercises. The idea is to understand and control your own body, so when the lessons finish, you can carry on using the techniques you've learned.
A new study looked at around 500 people with back pain. People had between six and 24 lessons in the Alexander technique, or had six sessions of massage. Some people were also given exercises to do at home.
What does the new study say?
Three months after treatment, people who'd learned the Alexander technique had between 11 and 16 fewer days of back pain each month. People who'd had massage experienced back pain for 13 fewer days each month.
The benefits lasted longer with the Alexander technique than with massage. After a year, people still had between 10 and 18 fewer days of back pain each month. People who'd had massage had seven fewer days of back pain. It might be that the Alexander technique teaches people to cope with back pain in the long term, while the benefits of massage start to fade when treatment stops.
Where does the study come from?
The study was done by researchers at Southampton and Bristol Universities. It was published in the British Medical Journal, which is owned by the British Medical Association. It was paid for with a grant from the Medical Research Council.
How reliable are the findings?
The study showed that, in the long term, the Alexander technique is probably better than massage. But it didn't look at other types of exercise or postural training, like yoga, or sessions with a physiotherapist. So, we don't know if there's anything special about the Alexander technique. It might be that improving your posture is the important part, and it doesn't matter how you do it.
The people in the study mostly had quite severe, long-term back pain. So, we don't know how well the Alexander technique works for people who are experiencing back pain for the first time.
What does this mean for me?
If you get back problems, you'll probably be pleased to hear that there's another treatment that can help with your pain. But if you're trying to decide between different exercise regimes, this study doesn't help. In general though, supervised exercises seem to work better than exercises you do on your own.
What should I do now?
IIf you're considering private lessons in the Alexander Technique, make sure your teacher is properly qualified. The Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT) requires its members to have completed a three-year training course and to hold insurance.
If you're thinking about paying for lessons in the Alexander technique, you may be interested to know that, in the study, having six lessons of the technique was almost as beneficial as having 24 lessons.
From:
Little P, Lewith G, Webley F, et al. Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain. BMJ. 2008; 337: 884.
To read more, see our information on back pain.
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This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
