I've had chronic back pain since my teens and I've always had a problem standing, bending, lifting etc. In the last few weeks though, I've really put my back through some punishing hard work and it's absolutely fine. It's all because I've been taught how to bend and lift properly through Alexander Technique sessions, which I originally went to in order to improve my breathing for my clarinet.

My back used to be really stiff and painful when I first got up, and now, well I don't suppose I leap out of bed but at least I don't have to think about how I'm going to get out. And I used to long to lie down when I went to bed at night, when I could feel all the pain seeping out. Now I lie down and I don't have any pain to seep - I can't quite believe it.

I used to have chiropractic sessions, and have had them for many years, off and on. But whilst chiropractic was very good for alleviating acute pain, it didn't really solve the problem so the pain always came back. With AT, it's tackled the underlying causes - incorrect posture, bending, lifting etc - so now it's gone, hopefully it will stay gone. I'm still not quite comfortable about standing, and I'm careful not to overdo it, but I'm very very pleased about it.

Just thought I'd recommend AT to anyone else who's got a bad back - I think I only had about 6 or 7 sessions, and they were around the same cost as my music lessons. This is the thread I started a few months ago asking about Alexander Technique and lots of people recommended it, for various reasons. I should say that my teacher acknowledges that there are some types of back pain/injury which AT can't "cure", but in those cases, AT can apparently help to stop what I think is called referred pain, ie when you get pain in your neck or shoulders because you're holding yourself tensely due to the back pain.

Hrm I get this sometimes, I thought it might be that I needed a softer mattress (mine is supposed to be supportive and good for the back). I might look this up in the YP to see if there's anywhere near me... How do these sessions work? Is it a one-on-one thing or some group session thingy?

I'm glad you found something that works for you . As a footnote, as back pain isn't necessarily a simple postural issue, pop along to your GP to rule out other causes before beginning such an intervention (it could be gall stones or a duodenal ulcer or a neuropathy or...).

Have a look at the Alexander Technique web site to find a teacher. I think some areas might do group sessions, but I'm not sure you'd get the most benefit out of these. I think one-to-one is the norm. All I can say about the sessions is that they were enjoyable, not onerous or painful, and the "homework" exercises weren't arduous. I think you'd get a flavour of what happens if you read the thread on AT in the link that I gave in my first post



Yes, you're right. In my case, I have been under the doctor from time to time for back pain so although I know there's no other cause in my case, you're right that someone else may have an underlying problem. I should have made it more clear that it's worked for me and *may* work for others, but probably depends on the cause of the pain.

I think I may look into AT Skylark, I've been having back problems because of bad posture etc for the past week (I'm 16, so I hope it's to do with the way I sit at the piano and nothing else, because it only hurts after extensive practise). It's obviously worked brilliantly for you, I think I may try and get a few sessions, and I know there's a local teacher...

I'm glad your back is feeling better

Jacob.

I was at a 'taster' session for AT the other day. It was very interesting

Someone suggested AT to me for tendonitis, which I get in my right hand if I'm playing a lot. (Usually around show time when I could be rehearsing 3 hours a night 4 nights weekdays, and then 10-4 sat/sun, plus normal practice.) But I've never actually got round to looking in to it because I thought it seemed pointless for such a "small" problem. (I mean that as in size, not affect on playing!) I've not actually thought about it in terms of helping the rest of my body with my playing and/or other things...so I might also look into it!