Is the Alexander Technique useful for posture and back pain?
I have just started going to Alexander Technique lessons. My third is tomorrow. I work at a PC all day and my posture has gradually got worse over the 4 years since I started my career – sometimes I get pain at the end of the day in my neck and shoulders. Lessons so far have looked at: – how I hold my head (looking up about 5 degrees too high, apparently) – how I stand – how I sit down and stand up from a chair – how I turn – how I sit at a PC I also have to lie down on my back on a flat surface, knees bent, with my neck propped up, for about 15-30 minutes a day – the point of this is to relax neck and shoulder muscles and give the spine a gentle stretch to help regain natural posture. Lessons themselves don’t give any relief or improvement – it’s not like going for a massage or something where the impact is obvious. However, after 3 weeks of practice based on 2 lessons, I have noticed a difference in the way I stand and sit, and have noticed less pain in my shoulders. This is hardly s
I just read in Yoga Journal that a recent medical study demonstrated that yoga was more effective than physical therapy for back pain. You’ll never believe what I just read in Physical Therapy Journal then. Actually yoga is a good idea. I tried it once and thought it was helpful except that I need an instructor who is better at helping me work around my injuries.
