Alexander Technique + Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement. Symptoms include tremors, stiffness, slowing of movement, impaired posture and balance, and loss of automatic movements. Things that you can do to help control symptoms include exercise and physical therapy as well as several types of medication. There are several alternative therapies that suggest they may have benefits for people with Parkinson’s disease: massage, tai chi, yoga, meditation, pet therapy, and the Alexander Technique.
The Alexander technique works to improve alignment and find a new equilibrium of muscular effort required for support.
This in turn benefits balance, tension, and pain. Because the Alexander technique works to manage movement and stillness in every-day activities and tasks, it reorganizes habit so that there is a thoughtful, well-reasoned way to accomplish tasks, giving back control to what might have been automated previously and therefore affected by the symptoms present in those with Parkinson’s disease. There are several testimonies of those who have had Alexander Technique lessons and find tremendous benefit to their quality of life.
An Alexander Technique group called The Poise Project has an initiative for Parkinson’s disease. These Alexander Technique teachers receive funding to do research, studies, and to work with people with Parkinson’s disease to work towards finding better management of symptoms and have more control over their use and functioning.
A preliminary study was done by C Stallibrass to determine whether or not the Alexander Technique had potential to aide in the “management of disability and feelings of depression in patients with Parkinson’s disease.” In the study, patients completed self-report questionnaires before lessons and after lessons ended. They received a median of 12 lessons from teachers of the Alexander Technique. “The self-report measures were the BECK Depression Inventory, activities in daily living, body concept, and social functioning disability questionnaires.” At the conclusion of the study, the statistically significant results solidified the “hypothesis that for PD patients on drug therapy, the Alexander Technique reduces depression and improves the management of disability” thereby warranting additional study. In fact, the next study can be seen as a follow-up to this preliminary study.
A study by C Stallibrass, P Sissons, and C Chalmers was done to determine whether or not the Alexander Technique, alongside normal treatment, would be beneficial to people with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Ninety-three participants were randomized into three groups. One group received lessons in the Alexander Technique along with regular treatment. Another received massage along with regular treatment. The last group received only regular treatment. The group receiving Alexander Technique lessons showed improvement compared to the group only receiving regular treatment. The improvements made were also maintained six months post lessons. This study concludes that “there is evidence that lessons in the Alexander Technique are likely to lead to sustained benefit for people with Parkinson’s disease.”
Chloe Stallibrass along with Christine Frank and Karen Wentworth did a skill retention study in regards to the “retention of skills learnt in Alexander technique lessons” by 28 people with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. A sample of 28 patients who had received Alexander technique lessons during a controlled trial had their questionnaires analyzed. It was determined that 96% of the people “said they were continuing to use the Alexander technique in their daily life; most often while walking, sitting or standing. Twenty-four people (86%) were also practicing the Alexander technique while lying down in a semi-supine position. Ten people (36%) were using the Alexander technique when they needed more control especially in crowds and social situations and seven (25%) in stressful situations.” It was said that, “the responses show that every participant retained some degree of skill; at the same time the responses indicate a wide variation in level of commitment and application.”
These studies show that depending on level of commitment and application, as with most things in life, the Alexander Technique can benefit the daily lives of those with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.
If you would like to explore the Alexander Technique as treatment or to manage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, please reach out here!
The Alexander technique works to improve alignment and find a new equilibrium of muscular effort required for support.
This in turn benefits balance, tension, and pain. Because the Alexander technique works to manage movement and stillness in every-day activities and tasks, it reorganizes habit so that there is a thoughtful, well-reasoned way to accomplish tasks, giving back control to what might have been automated previously and therefore affected by the symptoms present in those with Parkinson’s disease. There are several testimonies of those who have had Alexander Technique lessons and find tremendous benefit to their quality of life.
An Alexander Technique group called The Poise Project has an initiative for Parkinson’s disease. These Alexander Technique teachers receive funding to do research, studies, and to work with people with Parkinson’s disease to work towards finding better management of symptoms and have more control over their use and functioning.
A preliminary study was done by C Stallibrass to determine whether or not the Alexander Technique had potential to aide in the “management of disability and feelings of depression in patients with Parkinson’s disease.” In the study, patients completed self-report questionnaires before lessons and after lessons ended. They received a median of 12 lessons from teachers of the Alexander Technique. “The self-report measures were the BECK Depression Inventory, activities in daily living, body concept, and social functioning disability questionnaires.” At the conclusion of the study, the statistically significant results solidified the “hypothesis that for PD patients on drug therapy, the Alexander Technique reduces depression and improves the management of disability” thereby warranting additional study. In fact, the next study can be seen as a follow-up to this preliminary study.
A study by C Stallibrass, P Sissons, and C Chalmers was done to determine whether or not the Alexander Technique, alongside normal treatment, would be beneficial to people with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Ninety-three participants were randomized into three groups. One group received lessons in the Alexander Technique along with regular treatment. Another received massage along with regular treatment. The last group received only regular treatment. The group receiving Alexander Technique lessons showed improvement compared to the group only receiving regular treatment. The improvements made were also maintained six months post lessons. This study concludes that “there is evidence that lessons in the Alexander Technique are likely to lead to sustained benefit for people with Parkinson’s disease.”
Chloe Stallibrass along with Christine Frank and Karen Wentworth did a skill retention study in regards to the “retention of skills learnt in Alexander technique lessons” by 28 people with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. A sample of 28 patients who had received Alexander technique lessons during a controlled trial had their questionnaires analyzed. It was determined that 96% of the people “said they were continuing to use the Alexander technique in their daily life; most often while walking, sitting or standing. Twenty-four people (86%) were also practicing the Alexander technique while lying down in a semi-supine position. Ten people (36%) were using the Alexander technique when they needed more control especially in crowds and social situations and seven (25%) in stressful situations.” It was said that, “the responses show that every participant retained some degree of skill; at the same time the responses indicate a wide variation in level of commitment and application.”
These studies show that depending on level of commitment and application, as with most things in life, the Alexander Technique can benefit the daily lives of those with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.
If you would like to explore the Alexander Technique as treatment or to manage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, please reach out here!