Abstract
Background: Alexander technique private lessons have been shown to reduce chronic neck pain and are thought to work by different mechanisms than exercise. Group classes may also be effective and would be cost-effective. Design: A two-group pre-test/post-test design. Participants were assigned to either a general Alexander technique class or an exercise class designed to target neck pain. Both groups met over 5 weeks for two 60 min sessions/week. Participants: A total of 16 participants with chronic neck pain (aged 50+/−16 years) completed this study. Interventions: The Alexander class used awareness-building methods to teach participants to reduce habitual tension during everyday activities. The exercise class was based on physical therapy standard of care to strengthen neck and back muscles thought to be important for posture. Measures: We assessed neck pain/disability, pain self-efficacy, activation of the sternocleidomastoid muscles during the cranio-cervical flexion test, and posture while participants played a video game. Results: Both groups reported decreased neck pain/disability after the interventions. Sternocleidomastoid activation decreased only in the Alexander group. Conclusion: In this small preliminary study, Alexander classes were at least as effective as exercise classes in reducing neck pain and seemed to work via a different mechanism. Larger, multi-site studies are justified.
Highlights
With an annual prevalence of approximately 26% [1], neck pain is a leading cause of disability in the US [2]
Twenty participants were assigned to Alexander technique or targeted exercise classes
This study used a two-group pre-test–post-test design to compare the effects of two different interventions (Alexander technique and targeted exercise) on neck pain, pain self-efficacy, postural alignment, and neck muscle activity
Summary
With an annual prevalence of approximately 26% [1], neck pain is a leading cause of disability in the US [2]. The present study built on those data by assigning participants with neck pain to Alexander classes or exercise classes, to compare the effects of each intervention on neck pain, pain self-efficacy, posture, and neck muscle activity. This is the first study to compare Alexander group classes for neck pain to an active control group. If targeted exercise facilitates reorganization of neuromuscular control through strengthening of the deep cervical neck flexors leading to reduced load on the superficial neck flexors [16], participants in the exercise group should show reduced surface neck muscle activity during the CCFT and reduced neck pain after the intervention. If neck pain is associated with self-efficacy, neck angle, or activation of superficial neck flexors, we should see correlations between those metrics and neck pain
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
