Retention of skills learnt in Alexander technique lessons: 28 people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease

Stallibrass, C., Frank, C. and Wentworth, K. 2005. Retention of skills learnt in Alexander technique lessons: 28 people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 9 (2), pp. 150-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2004.06.004

TitleRetention of skills learnt in Alexander technique lessons: 28 people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease
AuthorsStallibrass, C., Frank, C. and Wentworth, K.
Abstract

The Alexander technique is a preventive, re-educative, self-help technique for improving the efficiency of overall balance and co-ordination. This paper describes the responses to a questionnaire completed by a sample of 28 people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease six months after receiving a course of lessons as participants in a controlled trial. It is the first time that retention of skills has been investigated in relation to learning the Alexander technique.

Twenty-seven people (96%) said that they were continuing to use the Alexander technique in their daily life; most often while walking, sitting or standing. Twenty-four people (86%) were also practising the Alexander technique while lying down in a semi-supine position. Ten people (36%) were using the Alexander technique when they needed more control especially in crowds and social situations and seven (25%) in stressful situations.

The responses show that every participant retained some degree of skill; at the same time the responses indicate a wide variation in level of commitment and application.

KeywordsAlexander technique, Parkinson's disease, Balance, Co-ordination, Skill retention
JournalJournal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Journal citation9 (2), pp. 150-157
ISSN1360-8592
YearApr 2005
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2004.06.004
Publication dates
PublishedApr 2005

Related outputs

Teaching the Alexander Technique to People with Parkinson's
Stallibrass, C. 2005. Teaching the Alexander Technique to People with Parkinson's. in: The Congress Papers: exploring the principles: 49 papers from the 7th International Congress of the F. M. Alexander Technique, 16-22 August 2004, Oxford, England London, UK STAT Books.

Randomized controlled trial of the Alexander Technique for idiopathic Parkinson's disease
Stallibrass, C., Sissons, P. and Chalmers, C. 2002. Randomized controlled trial of the Alexander Technique for idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Clinical Rehabilitation. 16 (7), pp. 695-708. https://doi.org/10.1191/0269215502cr544oa

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