Scientific Research

The Alexander Technique
Scientific & Medical Research

Taking charge, choosing a new direction: A service evaluation of Alexander Lessons for pain clinic patients (SEAT): An approach to pain management. At Bristol University, UK, 2012
The impact of the Alexander Technique in Improving Posture During Minimally Invasive Surgery. Reddy P et al (2010). The American Urological Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco.
This preliminary study found that surgeons who underwent Alexander Technique lessons improved their ability to perform laproscopic skills, including suturing and cutting.

Improvement in Automatic Postural Coordination Following Alexander Technique Lessons in a Person with Low Back Pain. Cacciatore TW, Horak FB, Henry SM (2005). Physical Therapy, 85(6):565-78.
This case report describes the use of the Alexander Technique with a client with a 25-year history of low back pain. After lessons, her postural responses and balance improved and her pain decreased. The introduction includes a thorough explanation of the Alexander Technique from a scientific perspective.

Effects of Alexander Technique on Muscle Activation During a Computer-Mouse Task: Potential for Reduction in Repetitive Strain Injuries. Shafarman E, Geisler MW (2003). American Psychological Association Convention, Toronto, Canada
In this preliminary study of computer mouse use, subjects without Alexander Technique training could reduce muscle activation only by slowing down, whereas subjects with Alexander Technique experience were able to reduce muscle activation while continuing to move rapidly. Implications for prevention of repetitive strain injury are discussed. The work was written up in Alexander Journal, 21. Available from the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (an affiliated society in the United Kingdom) or from the lead author of the study: E. Shafarman.

Randomized Controlled Trial of the Alexander Technique for Ideopathic Parkinson's Disease. Stallibrass C, Sissons P, Chalmers C (2002). Clinical Rehabilitation, 16(7):695-708.
This study assigned 93 subjects to receive Alexander Technique lessons, massage, or no treatment. AT lessons (but not massage) led to significant improvement in self-assessed disability, both immediately after the lessons and six months later.

Functional reach improvement in normal older women after Alexander Technique instruction. Dennis (1999). Journal of Gerontology - Series A: Biological and Medical Sciences, 54A(1): M8-M11.
Women aged 65-88 who received 8 Alexander Technique lessons showed a 36% improvement in forward-reaching distance (a common measure of balance control), while control subjects of the same age showed a 6% decrease over the same time-period.

Enhanced Respiratory Muscular Function in Normal Adults after Lessons in Proprioceptive Musculo-skeletal Education without Exercises. Austin J, Ausubel P (1992). Chest, 102:486-490.
This study examined respiratory function in adults. Spirometry tests demonstrated that Alexander Technique lessons led to improvement of respiratory muscular function.

Early Experiences of a Multidisciplinary Pain Management Program. Fisher K (1988). Holistic Medicine, 3 (1):47-56. (Note: the journal has since been renamed Journal of Interprofessional Medicine.)
Chronic pain sufferers participated in a multiple-intervention study. During the study, after three months, and one year later, the subjects rated the Alexander Technique as the most helpful method for relieving chronic pain.

Method for Changing Stereotyped Response Patterns by the Inhibition of Certain Postural Sets. Jones FP (1965). Psychological Review, 72, (3):196-214.
Postural habits can be profoundly affected by the Alexander Technique, specifically by learning and applying the concept of inhibition. Frank Pierce Jones was a pioneer in the study of human movement, and a teacher of the Alexander Technique. A collection of his publications can be found in the book Freedom to Change - The Development and Science of the Alexander Technique