This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Stallibrass, C Articles by Chalmers, C Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Stallibrass, C Articles by Chalmers, C Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Parkinson's Disease Patient Rights Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Randomized controlled trial of the Alexander Technique for idiopathic Parkinson's disease

School of Integrated Medicine, University of Westminster, London, UK

P Sissons

Peta Sissons Consultancy, London, UK

C Chalmers

Department of Statistics, LSE, London, UK

Objective: To determine whether the Alexander Technique, alongside normal treatment, is of benefit to people disabled by idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Design: A randomized controlled trial with three groups, one receiving lessons in the Alexander Technique, another receiving massage and one with no additional intervention. Measures were taken pre and post-intervention, and at follow-up, six months later.

Setting: The Polyclinic at the University of Westminster, Central London.

Subjects: Ninety-three people with clinically confirmed idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Interventions: The Alexander Technique group received 24 lessons in the Alexander Technique and the massage group received 24 sessions of massage.

Main outcome measures: The main outcome measures were the Self-assessment Parkinson's Disease Disability Scale (SPDDS) at best and at worst times of day. Secondary measures included the Beck Depression Inventory and an Attitudes to Self Scale.

Results: The Alexander Technique group improved compared with the no additional intervention group, pre-intervention to post-intervention, both on the SPDDS at best, p = 0.04 (confidence interval (CI) –6.4 to 0.0) and on the SPDDS at worst, p = 0.01 (CI –11.5 to –1.8). The comparative improvement was maintained at six-month follow-up: on the SPDDS at best, p = 0.04 (CI –7.7 to 0.0) and on the SPDDS at worst, p = 0.01 (CI –11.8 to –0.9). The Alexander Technique group was comparatively less depressed post-intervention, p = 0.03 (CI –3.8 to 0.0) on the Beck Depression Inventory, and at six-month follow-up had improved on the Attitudes to Self Scale, p = 0.04 (CI –13.9 to 0.0).

Conclusions: There is evidence that lessons in the Alexander Technique are likely to lead to sustained benefit for people with Parkinson's disease.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 16, No. 7, 695-708 (2002)
DOI: 10.1191/0269215502cr544oa


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				O. Suchowersky, G. Gronseth, J. Perlmutter, S. Reich, T. Zesiewicz, and W. J. Weiner Practice Parameter: neuroprotective strategies and alternative therapies for Parkinson disease (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology, April 11, 2006; 66(7): 976 - 982. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. W Cacciatore, F. B Horak, and S. M Henry Improvement in Automatic Postural Coordination Following Alexander Technique Lessons in a Person With Low Back Pain Physical Therapy, June 1, 2005; 85(6): 565 - 578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. T Wade Randomized clinical trials in Clinical Rehabilitation Clinical Rehabilitation, March 1, 2005; 19(3): 233 - 236. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. Gage and L. Storey Rehabilitation for Parkinson's disease: a systematic review of available evidence Clinical Rehabilitation, May 1, 2004; 18(5): 463 - 482. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D T Wade, H Gage, C Owen, P Trend, C Grossmith, and J Kaye Multidisciplinary rehabilitation for people with Parkinson's disease: a randomised controlled study J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, February 1, 2003; 74(2): 158 - 162. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Suchowersky, G. Gronseth, J. Perlmutter, S. Reich, T. Zesiewicz, and W. J. Weiner Practice Parameter: neuroprotective strategies and alternative therapies for Parkinson disease (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology, April 11, 2006; 66(7): 976 - 982. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]