Alexander Technique effective in lower back pain

This is according to a study published recently in The British Medical Journal. Paul Little and colleagues randomised 579 patients with recurrent or chronic lower back pain to either lessons from an Alexander Technique practitioner, massage or an exercise prescription from a doctor, that included nurse delivered behavioural counselling.

They found that exercise and lessons in the Alexander Technique remained effective at one year, but massage did not. Exercise after six lessons achieved 72% of the effect of 24 lessons alone, so the Alexander Technique is most effective when combined with exercise.