The Alexander Technique for Back Pain

The Alexander Technique has been practiced all over the world for over 100 years. F. M. Alexander (1869 -1955) developed a philosophy and hands-on procedures that invite a process of awareness in activity and facilitate change. ​

This article looks at the way the practice can benefit sufferers of back pain and how it can be used as a preventative.

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The Alexander Technique has been practiced all over the world for over 100 years. F. M. Alexander (1869 -1955) developed a philosophy and hands-on procedures that invite a process of awareness in activity and facilitate change.
 
The Technique is widely recognized as a way of developing and rediscovering sensory awareness and centring the body and mind. Frequently clients initially engage with the Alexander Technique because of physical issues, very often suffering from chronic back pain. However, most experience improvements beyond the physical level. 

Positive results of a national research project into chronic lower back pain have been published in the British Medical Journal in 2008, and in conjunction with supervised physiotherapy in 2014. It was shown that the Alexander Technique helps sufferers of chronic lower back pain in their daily life on a long-term basis and that patients of chronic back pain benefited from learning about their body and then engaging with supervised physiotherapy.  

A typical session with the Alexander Technique includes gentle, non-manipulative, physical contact-work and movements. The whole sequence of a movement is accompanied and observed by the practitioner and unnecessary tensions, stresses and efforts identified. The client learns to observe own unhelpful habits and practices in one-to-one sessions how to abstain from those. People who are interested in getting involved in improving their life quality benefit from this method. Clients are considered as learners rather than as patients.  

Additionally, people with other physical impairment can benefit from this approach. For instance, musicians and performers work with the Alexander Technique for improving their performances as well as for good self-care practice. The Alexander Technique is also found beneficial for people who suffer from neurological and/or movement disorders, such as Dystonia and Parkinson’s, Spina Bifida and Cerebral Palsy.  
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Doris Prugel-Bennett