Published 10 September 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a1502
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a1502

Letters

Alexander technique

BMA members requested study of Alexander technique in 1937

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

Between 1923 and 1951 the BMJ published some 30 articles and letters, most of them by BMA members, testifying to the efficacy of lessons in the Alexander technique. One of the letters, published in 1937, was signed by 19 BMA doctors and surgeons.¹ They reported that patients they had sent for lessons had greatly benefited and urged the medical community to investigate the Alexander technique. How fitting that some 70 years later the BMJ should publish the results of such an investigation.²

Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a1502

¹ Pimlico, London SW1

---

Competing interests: JMF is a teacher of the Alexander technique.

1. Bruce-Porter B, Ligat D, Caldwell JR, McDonagh JER, Dick JH, Macdonald P, et al. "Constructive conscious control." BMJ 1937;i:1137.
2. Little P, Lewith G, Webley F, Evans M, Beattie A, Middleton K, et al. Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain. BMJ 2008;337:a884. (19 August.)[Abstract/Free Full Text]

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

Relevant Article

Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain

Paul Little, George Lewith, Fran Webley, Maggie Evans, Angela Beattie, Karen Middleton, Jane Barnett, Kathleen Ballard, Frances Oxford, Peter Smith, Lucy Yardley, Sandra Hollinghurst, and Debbie Sharp
BMJ 2008 337: a884. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Gratuitous muck-raking

Roderic S MacDonald
bmj.com, 24 Sep 2008 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more >>