Living with back pain can significantly affect your quality of life. It is a common condition that may be caused by poor posture, muscular tension, injury from accidents, degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis and herniated discs. Pregnancy and the physical demands of childbirth can also cause back pain. The additional weight of the developing baby creates changes in balance, and the release of the hormone relaxin loosens ligaments, muscles and joints. Many women struggle with back pain in the years after having a baby.
Many people report rapid improvement when they start a course of Alexander Technique lessons. Once we become more aware of our tension and movement habits we can learn to change them and so address the root cause of chronic pain.
There is a growing evidence base from scientific research that demonstrates how learning the Alexander Technique has measurable benefits in reduction of chronic back pain. In 2008 an NHS funded gold standard randomised trial on long term and recurrent back pain carried out by Southampton University proved that the Alexander Technique was clinically effective. The results were reported in the British Medical Journal.