There is strong evidence to demonstrate the long-term benefits from taking Alexander Technique lessons for people with chronic low back pain in a major study published in the British Medical Journal (https://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a884).

Patients who undertook 24 lessons had a remarkable 86% reduction in days of pain each month, even 12 months after lessons were completed. 6 lessons reduced the number of days of pain by more than 50%.

The BMJ study was funded by the Medical Research Council and the National Health Service (NHS). The study took the form of a randomised, controlled trial of 579 patients with chronic or recurrent non-specific low back pain, comparing usual GP care with lessons in the Alexander Technique. The trial findings showed that participants who had Alexander Technique lessons with a registered teacher, experienced significantly less pain and disability compared with usual GP care.

A year after lessons were completed, trial participants who undertook 24 lessons had an average of 3 days of pain per month compared with 21 days of pain in the control group. Trial participants who undertook 6 lessons had an average of 10 days of pain per month compared with 21 days of pain in the control group. Improvements in capacity (measured as the ability to carry out daily tasks without being limited by back pain) were, if anything, even more impressive than the general reduction in pain. Many other 'quality of life' benefits were noted and no adverse events were reported.

Research into the Alexander Technique and Back Pain

"97% of people with back pain could benefit by learning the Alexander Technique - it is only a very small minority of back pain sufferers that require medical intervention such as surgery."Jack Stern, Renowned Spinal Neurosurgeon