I have been a big advocate for massage therapy way before ever becoming a wheelchair user. The treatment is better than just the run of the mill massage the therapist treats you with a deeper pressure this is so much more beneficial in releasing chronic muscle tension, as a chronic pain sufferer I get a lot of built up tensions and related . The focus is on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons and fascia and with regular treatment this is a massive aid towards making my life more comfortable.

Today however my therapist tried something else, when I went to him my back was a mess, as he worded it. As soon as he started working on my lower back I could feel the release of my muscles and truth is as always it was fantastic but then he started using a new treatment to me it is called the Alexander technique.

The Alexander technique is about improved posture and movement, which is believed to help reduce and prevent problems caused by unhelpful habits, I have since read that Teachers of the Alexander technique believe that repeat therapy will help get rid of tension in your body and relieves problems such as back pain, neck ache, sore shoulders and other musculoskeletal problems.

Evidence suggests the technique has the potential to improve certain health conditions such as chronic pain but these claim about the technique haven’t been scientifically tested.

Teachers of the Alexander technique believe this helps get rid of tension in your body and relieves problems such as back pain, neck ache, sore shoulders and other musculoskeletal problems.

Evidence suggests the technique has the potential to improve certain health conditions, but there are some claims made about the technique that haven’t been scientifically tested (see Does it work? below).

The main principles of the Alexander technique are all about how we move our body and the way we sit aor stand these small day to day things affects how well we function.The relationship between the head, neck and spine is fundamental to your ability to function optimally, so by becoming more mindful of the way you go about your daily activities and making changes may gain benefit. 

F. Matthias Alexander believed that the mind and body work together intimately as one, each constantly influencing the other, I to believe this. I also believe that chronic pain can be controlled by the mind, for example a man that walks on hot coals is said to have the ability to turn off the pain signals. 

However teachers of the technique don’t aim to get you walking on hot coals but it is said that conditions such as backache and other sorts of long-term chronic pain conditions could be the result of misusing your body over a long period of time, such as moving inefficiently and standing or sitting with your weight unevenly distributed. So the fundamental aim of the Alexander technique is to help you unlearn these bad habits and achieve a balanced, more naturally aligned body.

Conditions that can be treated with the Alexander technique are this such as chronic pain, severe back or neck pain. Stammering and balance skills can also be treated and are very effective with elderly people, the aim is to make them more balanced and less likely to fall.

The other health conditions that can benefit are conditions such as asthma, headaches, osteoarthritis, difficulty sleeping (insomnia) and stress.

After just one treatment I felt more relaxed and the pain had a momentary relief, my therapist is very good and willing to try other techniques, we are not frightened of trying something and it failing because how do you know if it will work or not if you don’t try.

You can find more info if you click here or here about the Alexander technique and I truly hope this may help someone else..