Movement therapies like qi gong and yoga have existed for thousands of years. Much more recently - within the past 100 years or so - different movement therapies have been developed in the West. These new therapies operate under the principle that harmful movement patterns and postures are at the heart of many chronic pain conditions, including back pain. Unlike Eastern movement therapies that raise body awareness and improve posture through exercise and stretching, Western therapies tend to address specific movements directly.
Much of the pain people experience today is musculoskeletal. Repetitive strain injuries and muscle imbalances are often caused by simple lack of awareness of how we use our bodies in everyday motions. Though scientific research into the efficacy of modern movement therapies is lacking, sufficient anecdotal evidence and sound theory combine to make these therapies viable pain management techniques. It is important to be aware of the following therapies, as they offer hope to people wishing to avoid the cycle of pain medication.
Alexander Technique: Alignment
Actor Frederick Matthias Alexander developed the Alexander technique after he cured his chronic laryngitis by changing his movement patterns and eliminating tension in his neck. The Alexander Technique rests on the principle that the alignment of the head, neck and spine are essential to proper and efficient movement throughout the entire body.
Alexander instructors ask their students to perform certain movements while using their hands to feel for muscle use and tension in the student. The instructor makes adjustments throughout the session to encourage your body to release any unnecessary tension. Some instructors will try to teach only a few simple movement postures and patterns that you can transfer to other movements and activities. Other instructors prefer to guide you through many different kinds of movement.
According to AlexanderTechnique.com, most students take between 20 and 40 lessons within a three month period, occasionally coming back for refresher lessons.
Feldenkrais Method: Neuromuscular Retraining
Moshe Feldenkrais has a rich background in science and martial arts. He developed his movement therapy with the goal of increasing self-awareness to improve movement.
There are two types of classes offered in the Feldenkrais Method: group lessons called Awareness Through Movement and individual lessons called Functional Integration. In Awareness Through Movement, an instructor verbally instructs students to perform a particular movement. Self-discovery is emphasized in these lessons; the student is encouraged to be creative about different movement options and to be aware of the ways in which they habitually tense certain muscle groups. There are hundreds of Awareness Through Movement classes, each dedicated to a particular movement.
Functional Integration lessons are largely passive. They are usually done with the student lying down, but can be done in other positions. The instructor guides the student's body through movements in a relaxed and gentle manner. The goal is to retrain the nervous system to keep muscles from tensing. See a video of Functional Integration at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
