The Minster Practice, Lichfield
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Updated 25/08/2008Alexander Technique and chronic/recurrent low back painChronic and recurrent low back pain, which causes probably more disability and days off work than any other health condition, can be eased through teaching better posture via the Alexander Technique. Back pain is notoriously difficult to treat and many people suffer from it for years. Low back pain affects seven in 10 people at some time in their lives and psychological factors are important as well as the physical factors. A study published online on 19th August 2008 in the British Medical Journal gave the results of a study comparing normal care (control), six sessions of massage, six or 24 lessons on the Alexander Technique, and prescription for exercise from a doctor with nurse delivered behavioural counselling in 579 patients. The experiment, run by researchers at the universities of Southampton and Bristol, found that one to one lessons in the Alexander Technique from registered teachers have long term benefits for patients with chronic back pain. Six lessons followed by exercise prescription were nearly as effective as 24 lessons at the end of a year. The details of the study are available on www.bmj.com or copy this search term in Google 10.1136/bmj.a884 The theory behind the Alexander Technique is the simultaneous releasing of emotional and physical stresses by improving posture. The Alexander Technique teaches the skilful "use of the self": how we move, how we stay still, how we breathe, how we learn, how we organise our awareness and focus of attention and, above all, how we choose our reactions in increasingly demanding situations. Practitioners of the technique can be found via the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique www.stat.org.uk
Advice for drivers regarding back painFor BackCare Awareness week in 2003, The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists produced a leaflet giving advice on pain prevention when driving and some basic stretch exercises to help make driving more comfortable and prevent the onset of physical symptoms. To download the leaflet go to this page and follow the link http://www.csp.org.uk/physiotherapy/features/steerclear.cfm or view the stretches online here http://www.csp.org.uk/physiotherapy/features/steerclear_guide.cfm For advice on health, posture and car selection check out Loughborough University's advice on http://www.drivingergonomics.com
Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back painA study in Spain, published in The Lancet in November 2003, showed that the firm mattress often advised to benefit low back pain is not the best type. At 90 days, patients with medium-firm mattresses had better outcomes for pain in bed, pain on rising, and disability than did patients with firm mattresses. Throughout the study period, patients with medium-firm mattresses also had less daytime low-back pain, pain while lying in bed, and pain on rising than did patients with firm mattresses. Lancet 2003; 362: 1599-64
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