New study gives fresh hope to back ache sufferers

5:00pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

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Back pain can be prevented by using alternative therapies, a study in Brighton has revealed.

Researchers have discovered patients with chronic back problems had better results after using the Alexander Technique than other methods such as massage or normal GP care.

It is the first long-term study of its kind into the technique, which was originally devised to help its founder, Australian actor Frederick Matthias Alexander, get over losing his voice.

The original nine month pilot trial in Brighton featured patients referred from ten GP practices across the city who were offered varying treatments.

Research suggests that after a year patients who had been given lessons in the Alexander technique suffered just three days of back pain a month.

This compared to 21 days for those receiving GP care and 14 days for those receiving massage.