New Evidence for Naturally Relieving Back Pain

Back pain is a common condition among Americans today.  Sometimes, alternative therapies can help you naturally relieve back pain, such as acupuncture or massage therapy.  A new study indicates the Alexander Technique may also be beneficial for individuals who suffer from chronic back pain. 

The Alexander Technique

Frederick Matthias Alexander created the Alexander Technique after he developed difficulty speaking in the late 1800s.  After the doctors told him there was no physical cause for him losing his voice, he began to study himself in mirrors, which led to him discovering he tightened his entire body before he was ready to speak or recite a piece.  He taught himself how to react to stress in a new way, and fixed his voice problem.  He went on to teach other individuals how to perform the Alexander Technique (which was named in honor of him after he died) until his death in 1955. 

Benefits and Disadvantages of the Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique has its advantages and disadvantages, as do all alternative therapies used to treat pain.  You can do the Alexander Technique while doing just about anything else; you do not have to take additional time out of your day to perform exercises, meditate, or anything else, which is a definite advantage.  Many individuals claim the technique is helpful in the following:

· Relieving chronic pain
· “Enhancing” recovery after being injured or having surgery
· Reducing weakness and pain as a result of repetitive motion and poor posture
· Improving stamina for athletes
· Improving breathing abilities for athletes and people who suffer from tuberculosis, asthma, and/or panic attacks
· Reducing stage fright
· Serving as an additional therapy in combination with psychotherapy for the treatment of panic attacks, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, stress management, and stuttering

The Alexander Technique certainly appears to have many benefits; however, the technique also has several disadvantages.  For instance, you need to learn the technique from an Alexander teacher, and most instructors require approximately 20-40 sessions to teach you the entire technique and its principles.  Insurance does not tend to cover alternative treatments, such as the Alexander Technique, so you would most likely have to pay out of pocket for all of the sessions to learn the technique. 

New Research

A new study was done with participants who experienced chronic back pain.  Researchers at the University of Southampton and the University of Bristol examined the effectiveness of the Alexander Technique against conventional treatment for those suffering with chronic back pain.  Over 500 individuals participated in the study, some of which were given 24 lessons where they were taught the Alexander Technique and some of which continued to receive their doctors’ normal care over a year’s time. 

The researchers discovered after one year, those who had received the Alexander Technique lessons had an average of 3 days of pain while those who continued to receive regular care from their doctors had an average of 21 days of back pain. 

The results of this study were published in the on-line version of the British Medical Journal. 

Given the new research, the Alexander Technique may be a viable option for relieving chronic back pain in the short-term and the long-term.  More research needs to be done on this specific treatment, of course, before any strong conclusions can be made about its effectiveness for chronic pain.

Sources:

Chronic Pain Connection: Alexander Technique Does Help Back Pain: Study

Wikipedia: Alexander Technique