Research - Alexander Technique
For information on recently completed research into the Alexander Technique and work in progress please visit the Society for Teachers of the Alexander Technique website www.stat.org.uk research section.
Trials include:
- Randomised controlled trial of the Alexander Technique for idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease.
- A randomised factorial trial for patients with recurrent and chronic back pain of GP exercise prescription, the Alexander Technique and massage.
- Preliminary evidence that neuromuscular education reduces low back pain and improves coordination of automatic postural adjustments.
- The effect of AT lessons in improving automatic and voluntary coordination of subjects with low back pain.
- Functional Reach improvement in Normal Older women After Alexander Technique instruction
- Enhanced Respiratory Muscular Function in Normal Adults after lessons in Proprioceptive Muscular Education without exercise.
- An Evaluation of the Alexander Technique for the Management of Disability in Parkinson’s Disease.
Research - Buteyko Breathing in Asthma Research
Most of the early research into the effectiveness of Buteyko was conducted in Russia and has yet to be widely published in translation.
Recent trials in other countries include;
The Brisbane Trial, Australia, 1994 – Showed that Buteyko reduced asthma patients’ consumption of bronchodilators by an average of approximately 90% in three mouths. This was compared to a 5% reduction for the control group over the same period.
The Gisbourne Study, New Zealand – found the overall results were very similar to those seen in Brisbane.
Other trials included
Teaching Buteyko by distant learning – (video) – showed an average of 60% reduction in bronchodilators use vs. 2.5% in the control group.
The Glasgow Trial, UK, 2000– 600 participants entered the trial and 384 completed the course. There was reported to be a reduction in asthma symptoms by 98%, use of reliever by 98% and use of steroid medication by 92%, over a two year follow up period.