Alexander technique

Related Terms

Feldenkrais method, guided movement-awareness, physical therapy, physiotherapy, proprioceptive musculoskeletal education, psycho-physiological reeducation, Rolfing?, tai chi, yoga.

Background

The Alexander technique is an educational program that teaches movement patterns and postures, with an aim to improve coordination and balance, reduce tension, relieve pain, alleviate fatigue, improve various medical conditions, and promote well-being. Actors, dancers, and athletes use the Alexander technique with the goal of improving performance. This technique is available through wellness centers, health education programs, and from individual teachers.
The Alexander technique can be traced to F.M. Alexander, an Australian-English actor, who attributed his own intermittent voice loss to poor head and neck posture. Alexander believed that people could be trained to detect and eliminate harmful movement patterns and positions.
Musculoskeletal approaches like the Alexander technique are advocated by many behavioral scientists and physiologists, although there are few scientific studies of this technique specifically.

Theory

An assumption underlying the Alexander technique is that people can be trained to alter habitual patterns of movement, including movements that are thought to be involuntary. Improving the position of the head and spine is felt to be important to achieving optimal health. It has been suggested that musculoskeletal movements and relationships can have direct effects on other aspects of health or function, and that beneficial movement patterns can be reinforced through repetition.
The American Center for the Alexander Technique was founded in New York in 1964 in order to provide teaching certification. To become certified, individuals must complete 1,600 hours of training over a minimum of three years in a program approved by the American Society of the Alexander technique (AmSAT). In 1987, the North American Society of Teachers of the Alexander technique was formed to educate the public and to establish and maintain standards for the certification of teachers and teacher training courses in the United States.
Most Alexander technique teachers instruct students by using both verbal directions and light touch. Students are encouraged to understand and sense what they are doing, and to make use in everyday life of what they have learned.
Sessions last up to an hour, and usually make use of a mirror for instruction. Lessons are usually private, although group instruction is also available. A gentle hands-on approach is used to teach movements with the head leading and the spine following, for example with stand-to-sit movements, walking, turning, breathing, or speaking. It may take 10 to 30 lessons before students become proficient, and some individuals continue lessons over extended periods of time.

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *


There is not enough scientific evidence to make a strong recommendation for the use of the Alexander technique in asthma patients. More study is needed in this area.

C


There is not enough scientific evidence to make a strong recommendation for the use of the Alexander technique in asthma patients. More study is needed in this area.

C


There is limited evidence in this area, and no firm conclusion can be drawn based on scientific research.

 C


There is limited evidence in this area, and no firm conclusion can be drawn based on scientific research.

 C


Limited research suggests that functional reach performance may be improved through Alexander technique instruction, particularly in people older than 65 years. Better quality evidence is needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn.

 C


Limited research suggests that functional reach performance may be improved through Alexander technique instruction, particularly in people older than 65 years. Better quality evidence is needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn.

 C


There is a small amount of research on the effects of the Alexander technique on lung function in healthy people and musicians who play wind instruments. Until better evidence is available, it remains unclear if the Alexander technique improves lung capacity.

 C


There is a small amount of research on the effects of the Alexander technique on lung function in healthy people and musicians who play wind instruments. Until better evidence is available, it remains unclear if the Alexander technique improves lung capacity.

 C


Early research suggests that Alexander technique instruction may improve fine and gross movements and reduce depression in patients with Parkinson's disease. Additional human research is needed before a clear recommendation can be made.

 C


Early research suggests that Alexander technique instruction may improve fine and gross movements and reduce depression in patients with Parkinson's disease. Additional human research is needed before a clear recommendation can be made.

 C


The Alexander technique has been suggested as a means to improve children's postural development. The long-term effects of such instruction are not known.

 C


The Alexander technique has been suggested as a means to improve children's postural development. The long-term effects of such instruction are not known.

 C


There is not enough scientific evidence to make a strong recommendation for the use of the Alexander technique in patients who stutter. More study is needed in this area.

 C


There is not enough scientific evidence to make a strong recommendation for the use of the Alexander technique in patients who stutter. More study is needed in this area.

 C


Early case series data suggest that Alexander technique instruction may reduce symptoms in people with TMJ chronic pain. More human research is needed before a clear recommendation can be made.

 C


Early case series data suggest that Alexander technique instruction may reduce symptoms in people with TMJ chronic pain. More human research is needed before a clear recommendation can be made.

 C
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory

The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Safety

Many complementary techniques are practiced by healthcare professionals with formal training, in accordance with the standards of national organizations. However, this is not universally the case, and adverse effects are possible. Due to limited research, in some cases only limited safety information is available.

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

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Dennis RJ. Musical performance and respiratory function in wind instrumentalists: effects of the Alexander technique of musculoskeletal education (abstract). Dissertation Abstracts International 1988;48(7):1689a.
Dennis J. Alexander technique for chronic asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000;(2):CD000995.
Dennis RJ. Functional reach improvement in normal older women after Alexander Technique instruction. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 1999;54(1):M8-11.
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Little P, Lewith G, Webley F, et al. Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain. BMJ 2008 Aug 19;337:a884.
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Schulte D, Walach HFM. Alexander technique in the treatment of stuttering-- a randomized single-case intervention study with ambulatory monitoring. Psychother Psychosom 2006;75(3):190-191.
Stallibrass C. An evaluation of the Alexander Technique for the management of disability in Parkinson's disease--a preliminary study. Clin Rehabil 1997;11(1):8-12.
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Swinburne C. From the top. Nurs Stand. 1-25-2006;20(20):20-22.
Valentine ER, Gorton TL, Hudson JA, et al. The effect of lessons in the Alexander technique on music performance in high and low stress situations. Psychol Music 1995;23:129-141.