[?] Subscribe To
This Site

Alexander Technique for Back Pain

The Alexander Technique for back pain was invented by Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955). He was a professional orator who developed problems with his vocal cords. He theorized that his problem came from muscular tension, inefficient movement and poor posture. Alexander worked to cure his own condition and then applied the principles he used to other pain problems.

Alexander taught that muscular tension builds up in the body over many years. This tension can lead to all kinds of nasty problems, including several varieties of back pain. Alexander described his techniques as things you unlearn rather than learn. He meant that people develop bad habits with their posture, breathing and balance, as they age. His technique is designed to rid the patient of those bad habits.

Alexander Technique for Back Pain Methods

Alexander technique teachers use hands on correction and guidance to improve all the movements a student makes. The program is designed to allow the student to learn the best way to move and breathe during all their daily activities. Instruction is usually performed one on one or in small groups.

There are also study-at-home courses, as well as many books on the Alexander technique. It would seem rather difficult to learn this method from a book, since it really involves a lot of touching and physical guidance.

Alexander Technique for Back Pain Effectiveness

Alexander method teaches proper Kinaesthesia. This means that it shows a student how to move correctly to avoid health problems and cure existing conditions. While it seems that Alexander technique might be healthy and worthwhile, I am not sure if it is the best treatment for most dorsopathy conditions. After all, posture education alone will not cure chronic back pain.

Alexander technique is rather mysterious since much of the treatment is taught by private teachers. Some of these instructors do not make it clear exactly how their sessions will help to overcome a long standing pain complaint, but some patients swear by the results, nonetheless. Basically, learning Alexander technique has very few risks, except those incurred financially.

Alexander Technique for Back Pain Advice

I like the idea that the Alexander technique for back pain is 100% holistic and natural. There is certainly some good to be learned about efficiency of movement, proper posture and constructive breathing. These are all healthy and wonderful things. However, I am just not sure if this would be my chosen treatment option, unless I have tried everything else. Remember, Alexander presupposes a physical reason for the pain, which is often not the real problem at all...

Patients with psychosomatic back pain are unlikely to benefit much from Alexander technique, unless it is by the power of the placebo reaction. Trying to convince a patient that their pain is due to some physical condition, such as poor posture or breathing, is not too much different than the way the medical community blames the common spinal scapegoats for back pain. We all know how ineffective this physically focused mentality has proven to be within the back pain industry...

Maybe Alexander Technique is worth a try. It can�t hurt and might just be the �magic bullet� to help cure your pain.

Alexander Technique for Back Pain to Lower Back Pain Home page. 5/30/06 Revised 5/26/08

For more information, look at THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE by Robert & Anne Rickover. They know all the details on Alexander Technique and have vast amounts of information on their site. Highly recommended.