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| Back pain eased by good posture | Back pain eased by good posture |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Long-term back pain can be relieved through encouraging sufferers to adopt good posture through the Alexander technique, say UK researchers. | Long-term back pain can be relieved through encouraging sufferers to adopt good posture through the Alexander technique, say UK researchers. |
| The technique teaches patients how to sit, stand and walk in a way that relieves pain by focusing on their coordination and posture. | The technique teaches patients how to sit, stand and walk in a way that relieves pain by focusing on their coordination and posture. |
| Until now there had been little evidence of the therapy's long term effectiveness. | Until now there had been little evidence of the therapy's long term effectiveness. |
| The latest work is published in the British Medical Journal. | The latest work is published in the British Medical Journal. |
| Diana Maclellan gives Jane Hill a lesson in posture | |
| About half the UK population suffers from back pain during a year with up to 15% going on to have chronic problems. | About half the UK population suffers from back pain during a year with up to 15% going on to have chronic problems. |
| It is the second biggest cause of sick leave, accounting for five million lost working days a year. | It is the second biggest cause of sick leave, accounting for five million lost working days a year. |
| The trial was funded by the Medical Research Council and the NHS Research and Development fund. | The trial was funded by the Medical Research Council and the NHS Research and Development fund. |
| Longer-term relief | Longer-term relief |
| Researchers from Bristol and Southampton universities used a combination of normal GP care, massage and Alexander technique lessons on 463 patients over the course of a year. | Researchers from Bristol and Southampton universities used a combination of normal GP care, massage and Alexander technique lessons on 463 patients over the course of a year. |
| They found that by the end, the Alexander patients suffered just three days back pain a month. | They found that by the end, the Alexander patients suffered just three days back pain a month. |
| This compared to 21 days for those receiving GP care, which tended to include regular consultations, pain killers and exercise regimes for some, and 14 for those who had massages. | This compared to 21 days for those receiving GP care, which tended to include regular consultations, pain killers and exercise regimes for some, and 14 for those who had massages. |
| The Alexander patients were split into two - one group received 24 lessons and one six. | The Alexander patients were split into two - one group received 24 lessons and one six. |
| Those who had 24 lessons were suffering just three days pain, compared to 11 for the other group. | Those who had 24 lessons were suffering just three days pain, compared to 11 for the other group. |
| It may not be effective for everyone Dries Hettinga, researcher manager for Back Care Send us your comments | It may not be effective for everyone Dries Hettinga, researcher manager for Back Care Send us your comments |
| Lead researcher Professor Debbie Sharp said using the Alexander technique should provide help to most people with back pain. | Lead researcher Professor Debbie Sharp said using the Alexander technique should provide help to most people with back pain. |
| She added: "Lessons in the Alexander technique offer an individualised approach to develop skills that help people recognise, understand, and avoid poor habits affecting postural tone and neuromuscular coordination. | She added: "Lessons in the Alexander technique offer an individualised approach to develop skills that help people recognise, understand, and avoid poor habits affecting postural tone and neuromuscular coordination. |
| "It can potentially reduce back pain by limiting muscle spasm, strengthening postural muscles, improving coordination and flexibility, and decompressing the spine." | "It can potentially reduce back pain by limiting muscle spasm, strengthening postural muscles, improving coordination and flexibility, and decompressing the spine." |
| Dries Hettinga, researcher manager for Back Care, a charity which offers support and advice to people with back pain, said: "There is little evidence available about the effectiveness of the Alexander technique so this research is welcome. | Dries Hettinga, researcher manager for Back Care, a charity which offers support and advice to people with back pain, said: "There is little evidence available about the effectiveness of the Alexander technique so this research is welcome. |
| "The Alexander technique is something we do recommend and the feedback we have got is good. | "The Alexander technique is something we do recommend and the feedback we have got is good. |
| "But I would say that it may not be effective for everyone. Back pain is different for each person and you often need a combination of things to help relieve it." | "But I would say that it may not be effective for everyone. Back pain is different for each person and you often need a combination of things to help relieve it." |