Alexander Technique for Back Pain

[sandybay]

According to an article published by the British Medical Journal Online the
Alexander Technique is more effective at helping back pain long term
than conventional treatments.

Research by Prof. Paul Little from Southhampton University concluded that after a year patients receiving normal care including massage suffered 21 days of back pain in the previous month whereas those who had completed a course of 24 sessions of Alexander Technique suffered only 3 days of pain.

As the technique is based around correct posture etc, maybe the Victorians had a point when they made children sit like ramrods !

When I saw an orthopaedic surgeon years ago for a congenital back problem I innocently asked 'Would something like the Alexander Technique help the problem. He looked at me snootily and said 'Tell me, what exactly is the Alexander Technique' end of conversation !
Probably because he liked to make his income as a private surgeon operating on people's backs !

Apparently it is available to a limiyed extent on the NHS.
Anyone with experience of it ?

[keepersdaughter]

I've heard some really good things about this method, unfortunately it's virtually unheard of over here so i haven't been able to try it out when i really could have used it. Ive had back problems for the past 5 or 6 years, caused I think by having to carry heavy loads and shopping up the basement steps to the kitchen from garage. I saw chiropractor, he helped get me moving. Then this past year I saw a physical therapist, he really helped a lot, so much so that i started swimming at the beginning of the summer, really stretching out in the water and it has made a tremendous difference. Also, don't know if you're overweight, but I had to lose some weight (struggling with it again, not been exercising last month or so), and that seemed to help get my posture more as it should be which in turn relieved pain in back.

[sandybay]

Yes KD, am a bit overweight. Not massively but short and top heavy.
The surgeon I saw recommended swimming and I need to lose a couple of pounds as I have arthritis in my hip now.

How about and RM slimming club thread ?

[Katelb]

Good idea Sandy,I like to swim ,and have been told that it will help with my posture which is lacking a bit.I'm not a very good swimmer but have improved so as not to swim with one foot on the bottom!!! I must start going once a week again after our hols,they have two wrinkly's sessions which I much prefer since they all behave a little better!!

[souter girl]

I had some sessions ("lesson") some years ago and it is a great way to help you to help yourself re posture in standing, sitting etc The stretching I learned was brilliant, but I fear I've fallen back into bad habits. The practitioner if that is what he is called analysed my posture, but it was not cheap and I gave up when it turned out that the "back problem" was in fact gall bladder pain "transferring" through to my back. I would recommend it as a way of life, it that's not putting it too strongly.

[souter girl]

Just a P.S Alexander technique seems to be in the news these days. See today's Daily Telegraph where there's an article or alternatively check their website.

[Rustic Pumpkin]

My back is a total and complete mess. I don't know what to do any more. Despite having shelled out for a new bed, I have not had a good nights sleep in, well, I don't really remember, maybe Summer 2007? I am totally running on 'fumes' at present. My physiotherapist is/was useless. No treatment, just a few poxy exercises that did me no good whatsover. I am considering a chiropractor. Someone else suggested Pilates. Apparently, I need to 'tighten my corset' as in the muscle structure around my torso. It is apparently non existant.

[keepersdaughter]

Rustic, I tried Pilates over the summer, I thought it would be good too. I agree that tightening stomach muscles 'core' as they say, does in turn also helps strengthen the back. Unforunately, I didn't realise how weak my tummy muscles had become and it really hurt my back, so much so I had to give them up. May I suggest swimming first, it's a bit gentler on the body and the water helps support body weight.

[dragonfly]

My back had been playing up for years until it went entirely. I had 3 weeks flat on my back in agony earlier in the year. I saw a physiotherapist who showed me some exercises to do every day. My back improved daily until three weeks later it was 80 percent better and 3 more weeks back to normal. He suggested I do pilates and as I am terified of being incapacitated again I bought a pilates machine and do at least half an hours exercise most days and my back is brilliant. I am going to keep it up and hope I never have a bad back again.
The pilates machine was expensive but as I lie on my back for most of the exercises it is none weight bearing so is gentle on the joints and I enjoy using it which keeps me motivated. I have noticed an improvement in most parts of my body. Eleanor does pilates with an inexpensive elastic band that is having great results.

[Oola]

RP sounds like you need a good osteopath. They are much more gentle than chiropracters. My back is a mess too, I'm sitting here with a blinding headache (should really get off the laptop) because of neck pain, and knock on problems in other pressure points down my spine and in my chest. I haven't been able to afford it lately (haven't been able to afford anything lately!) and I desperately need to start swimming again. My cousin is an osteopath and she says that core strength (abs) are vital for strengthening your back. I also have a pelvis that likes to twist and have exercises to help it (but am useless at doing them regularly).

This was my osteopath before my cousin qualified (she also works there on certain days of the week) http://www.movingisliving.co.uk/

He is WONDERFUL - he has done mostly cranial osteopathy on me and it's amazing.

This explains a bit more about osteopathy and cranial osteopathy

http://www.movingisliving.co.uk/Osteopathy.html