PHYSICAL THERAPY AND THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE HOMEPAGE
Articles, Books, Videos and Links
Physical therapists and Alexander Technique teachers both work with people who have posture and movement dysfunctions. Physical therapists treat their patients within a medical model while Alexander Technique practitioners regard themselves as teachers and work within an educational model. The two fields have many intertwining interests and concerns. Unfortunately, there has been little information regarding the Alexander Technique available for people in the physical therapy community.
This is beginning to change. As John Macy, PT, says, “Fourteen years ago, when I started in this field, very few therapists I met had heard of the Alexander Technique. Today therapists often say, ‘I’ve heard of it, but I don’t really know anything about it’”. Awareness of the Alexander Technique in the physical therapy community has been increasing a good deal lately, particularly since a comprehensive study published in the British Medical Journal in 2008 clearly shows that lessons in the Alexander Technique are effective in alleviating backpain.
This page is designed to help bridge the knowledge gap between the two fields. It is a forum for articles and other sources of information regarding the Alexander Technique written mainly by or for physical therapists and other medical professionals. (If you would like to contribute to this page, send us a note at this Email Contact.) This site is a service of Alexander Technique Nebraska and Toronto, and Life Bridge Coaching.
Articles about the Alexander Technique written by physical therapists:
Physical Therapy and the Alexander Technique: An Overview by John Macy, PT
The Alexander Technique: Another Tool for Physical Therapists by Deborah Caplan, MA, PT
The Alexander Technique: Education for the Aching Back by Deborah Caplan, MA, PT
On Coming to Terms with the 'P' Word" by Marsha Novak, PT
Where do you Stand on Posture by Idelle Packer, MS, PT, CTAT
Physical Therapy and the Alexander Technique by Zora Natanblut, PT, Ph.D
Physiotherapy and the Alexander Technique by Elke Rudolph, PT
The Alexander Technique by Lilah Brand, PT, MS
See also: Improvement in Automatic Postural Coordination Following Alexander Technique Lessons in a Person With Low Back Pain, an article in the Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association
Watch a 3 minute introductory video explanation of the Technique by Marjorie Barstow or a somewhat longer version by her. View or download a 13 minute introductory video produced by the British Medical Journal in 2008 as part of a major study showing the effictivess of the Alexander Technique in alleviating back pain. . More vldeos at AlexanderVideo.net
Books, Videos and a DVD by Physical Therapists relating to the Alexander Technique, Backpain and Physical Therapy as well as a book about Chair Design and the Alexander Technique:
Deborah Caplan, PT (two articles by her are listed above) and Bruce I. Kodish, PT have both written books about backpain, drawing on their work as physical therapists and teachers of the Alexander Technique. Deborah Caplan has also produced two videos on the topic. These books and videos are excellent resources for PTs and MDs - and for their backpain patients.
The Chair: Rethinking Culture, Body and Design provides a wonderfully fresh look at an object so common in our society that most of us pay little or no attention to it. Galen Cranz, a professor of architecture at the University of California Berkely and a teacher of the Alexander Technique, has written what is probably the definitive work on this topic. Physical Therapists, Alexander Technique teachers - and everybody else who wants to be more comfortable while seated - can learn a great deal from this very readable book.
Learn more about these books and videos, and how to order them
This site is a service of Robert and Anne Rickover.
Robert Rickover is a teacher of the Alexander Technique in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also teaches regularly in Toronto, Canada. Robert is on the faculty of the annual Nebraska Wesleyan University High School Solo Singer Workshop and Alexander Technique Workshops of Omaha. He is the Director of Alexander Technique Workshops - Bring a Workshop to Your Area and Movement Coaching by Phone and is the author of Fitness Without Stress - A Guide to the Alexander Technique. Click here to arrange a lesson or workshop with Robert
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