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Randomised controlled trial of Alexander Technique for chronic and recurrent back pain

Randomised controlled trial of Alexander Technique for chronic and recurrent back pain
Randomised controlled trial of Alexander Technique for chronic and recurrent back pain
Objective: to determine the effectiveness of lessons in the Alexander technique, massage therapy, and advice from a doctor to take exercise (exercise prescription) along with nurse delivered behavioural counselling for patients with chronic or recurrent back pain.
Design Factorial randomised trial.

Setting: 64 general practices in England.

Participants: 579 patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain; 144 were randomised to normal care, 147 to massage, 144 to six Alexander technique lessons, and 144 to 24 Alexander technique lessons; half of each of these groups were randomised to exercise prescription.

Interventions: 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.

Main outcome measures: Roland Morris disability score (number of activities impaired by pain) and number of days in pain.

Results: exercise and lessons in the Alexander technique, but not massage, remained effective at one year (compared with control Roland disability score 8.1: massage –0.58, 95% confidence interval –1.94 to 0.77, six lessons –1.40, –2.77 to –0.03, 24 lessons –3.4, –4.76 to –2.03, and exercise –1.29, –2.25 to –0.34). Exercise after six lessons achieved 72% of the effect of 24 lessons alone (Roland disability score –2.98 and –4.14, respectively). Number of days with back pain in the past four weeks was lower after lessons (compared with control median 21 days: 24 lessons –18, six lessons –10, massage –7) and quality of life improved significantly. No significant harms were reported.

Conclusions: 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.
0959-8138
965-968
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Lewith, George
0fc483fa-f17b-47c5-94d9-5c15e65a7625
Webley, Fran
143f965b-866b-4455-89a5-d187f52e1cde
Evans, Maggie
2423a6da-4b43-4cce-9072-9fdc1245093f
Beattie, Angela
a681b4cd-1480-4b97-85d6-b003978c872d
Middleton, Karen
50b8579a-ca47-4efa-a4b0-65bc0e8c7348
Barnett, Jane
f10c0f99-e2f8-42e6-b52a-4987568453db
Ballard, Kathleen
ca1a28f9-12aa-4037-8e8f-518a9baeb902
Oxford, Frances
f7c6afe9-3acb-4ec5-a431-21c308164126
Smith, Peter
961a01a3-bf4c-43ca-9599-5be4fd5d3940
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Hollinghurst, Sandra
e0ec6e20-afca-437a-a2e1-4250ea157811
Sharp, Debbie
d9bbb95c-bc44-4be2-9de8-f08cdc8ae7b7
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Lewith, George
0fc483fa-f17b-47c5-94d9-5c15e65a7625
Webley, Fran
143f965b-866b-4455-89a5-d187f52e1cde
Evans, Maggie
2423a6da-4b43-4cce-9072-9fdc1245093f
Beattie, Angela
a681b4cd-1480-4b97-85d6-b003978c872d
Middleton, Karen
50b8579a-ca47-4efa-a4b0-65bc0e8c7348
Barnett, Jane
f10c0f99-e2f8-42e6-b52a-4987568453db
Ballard, Kathleen
ca1a28f9-12aa-4037-8e8f-518a9baeb902
Oxford, Frances
f7c6afe9-3acb-4ec5-a431-21c308164126
Smith, Peter
961a01a3-bf4c-43ca-9599-5be4fd5d3940
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Hollinghurst, Sandra
e0ec6e20-afca-437a-a2e1-4250ea157811
Sharp, Debbie
d9bbb95c-bc44-4be2-9de8-f08cdc8ae7b7

Little, Paul, Lewith, George, Webley, Fran, Evans, Maggie, Beattie, Angela, Middleton, Karen, Barnett, Jane, Ballard, Kathleen, Oxford, Frances, Smith, Peter, Yardley, Lucy, Hollinghurst, Sandra and Sharp, Debbie (2008) Randomised controlled trial of Alexander Technique for chronic and recurrent back pain. BMJ, 42 (12), 965-968. (doi:10.1136/bmj.a884). (PMID:19096019)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective: to determine the effectiveness of lessons in the Alexander technique, massage therapy, and advice from a doctor to take exercise (exercise prescription) along with nurse delivered behavioural counselling for patients with chronic or recurrent back pain.
Design Factorial randomised trial.

Setting: 64 general practices in England.

Participants: 579 patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain; 144 were randomised to normal care, 147 to massage, 144 to six Alexander technique lessons, and 144 to 24 Alexander technique lessons; half of each of these groups were randomised to exercise prescription.

Interventions: 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.

Main outcome measures: Roland Morris disability score (number of activities impaired by pain) and number of days in pain.

Results: exercise and lessons in the Alexander technique, but not massage, remained effective at one year (compared with control Roland disability score 8.1: massage –0.58, 95% confidence interval –1.94 to 0.77, six lessons –1.40, –2.77 to –0.03, 24 lessons –3.4, –4.76 to –2.03, and exercise –1.29, –2.25 to –0.34). Exercise after six lessons achieved 72% of the effect of 24 lessons alone (Roland disability score –2.98 and –4.14, respectively). Number of days with back pain in the past four weeks was lower after lessons (compared with control median 21 days: 24 lessons –18, six lessons –10, massage –7) and quality of life improved significantly. No significant harms were reported.

Conclusions: 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.

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More information

Published date: 19 August 2008
Organisations: Community Clinical Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 73666
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/73666
ISSN: 0959-8138
PURE UUID: 54f0f66b-8432-4e4b-8a66-c8df6897df2c
ORCID for Peter Smith: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4423-5410
ORCID for Lucy Yardley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3853-883X

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 10 Mar 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:42

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Contributors

Author: Paul Little
Author: George Lewith
Author: Fran Webley
Author: Maggie Evans
Author: Angela Beattie
Author: Karen Middleton
Author: Jane Barnett
Author: Kathleen Ballard
Author: Frances Oxford
Author: Peter Smith ORCID iD
Author: Lucy Yardley ORCID iD
Author: Sandra Hollinghurst
Author: Debbie Sharp

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