Alexander technique

Haveyoutriedyoga

Haveyoutriedyoga

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Staff member
Do you have any experience with this as a management / supportive therapy for symptoms related to living with ME/CFS (or any other illness)?

There is no reliable evidence to suggest that it treats ME/CFS or removes symptoms. Anecdotally some Internet people (or perhaps, personas) have claimed that it helps with ME/CFS symptom management. As usual a lot (not all) of these anecdotes are from people who have then learned the technique and practice it as a business.

A 2010 ME Association publication reported that survey respondents said:
Unhelpful treatments not already asked about in the questionnaire – with 15 or more mentions - were: acupuncture, Alexander Technique, antiobiotics, aromatherapy, healing, herbal remedies, kinesiology, magnesium and reflexology
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https://meassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/MEA-Management-Survey-2010.pdf

I ask because I have a lot of postural issues, tension, bracing, aches and pains and am considering ways to help directly with those issues (assumption #1 - these are 'issues', assumption #2 - such a technique/therapy would sustainably improve them), and it would be a bonus if that resulted in better energy conservation (assumption #3 - it would reduce energy expenditure, and do so enough to be significant in a very small way). I also struggle to really rest, and they claim to help you learn that.

Any news, views, experiences or other comments would be good to hear. I noticed that there wasn't a thread for this, so thought it would be good to have a place to discuss it as a potentially supportive therapy (or not, as the case may well be).
 
NHS says:

Does the Alexander technique work?
Supporters of the Alexander technique often claim it can help people with a wide range of health conditions. Some of these claims are supported by scientific evidence, but some have not yet been properly tested.

There's evidence suggesting the Alexander technique can help people with:

- long-term back pain – lessons in the technique may lead to reduced back pain-associated disability and reduce how often you feel pain for up to a year or more

- long-term neck pain – lessons in the technique may lead to reduced neck pain and associated disability for up to a year or more

- Parkinson's disease – lessons in the technique may help you carry out everyday tasks more easily and improve how you feel about your condition

If you have one of these conditions and you're considering trying the Alexander technique, it's a good idea to speak to your GP or specialist first to check if it might be suitable for you.

Some research has also suggested the Alexander technique may improve general long-term pain, stammering, and balance skills in older people to help them avoid falls. But the evidence in these areas is limited and more studies are needed.

There's currently little evidence to suggest the Alexander technique can help improve other health conditions, including asthma, headaches, osteoarthritis, difficulty sleeping (insomnia) and stress.
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I think the Alexander technique is very useful for becoming aware of yourself physically which people normally aren't. I was ready to abandon my career as a violinist until I was lucky enough to find a teacher who used aspects of it.

I suppose if your aches and pains were due to postural tension and you could train yourself to use the technique it would help.
 
I studied it for a time, but not for ME.

I found it tiring and ultimately had to abandon it (I was working at the time, and even once a week it was too much on top of a job), but it was useful in that it helped me understand the postural differences I thought needed correcting were best left alone because they were natural for me.
 
I met someone many years ago with ME who was an Alexander teacher. She moved very carefully and sat and stood very upright, but it made no difference to her ME. I remember reading about it at the time. I gathered it was popular with actors and musicians.
 
I tried a couple of classes in the first year when I still thought I just needed to get fit, or something. They were PEM-inducing, probably not so much the classes which from memory included a fair bit of lying on the ground relaxing, but more the getting ready, trying to look presentable, and getting there and back. They certainly didn't help ME/CFS symptoms. I guess a couple of classes wasn't really a fair trial but I didn't think the effort of more classes was worth it.
 
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