Extrait

Background and study aims Back pain is a common problem, which affects most people at some point in their lives. Back pain is said to be chronic when a sufferer experiences episodes which last for at least three months. Many people who suffer from chronic back pain are prone to repeated episodes (recurrent back pain), which can have a big impact on their lives. The Alexander technique teaches people how to avoid movements that cause unnecessary tension in their daily lives by increasing self-awareness and “unlearning” bad habits (such as bad posture). The Alexander technique is taught by a qualified teacher who uses gentle hand contact and verbal instruction to guide movement. This helps patients to become aware of, and to avoid, harmful muscle movements which can be applied to daily actions such as sitting or standing. For people with chronic back pain, the Alexander technique is often used in combination with physiotherapy. This means that for patients who experience and improvement of their back pain, it is unclear what has caused this. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the Alexander technique, physiotherapy exercise classes or both together in relieving chronic back pain. Who can participate? Adults who suffer from recurrent back pain, who have been experiencing a current episode for more than three weeks. What does the study involve? Participants are randomly allocated into one of four groups to receive a treatment for 6 months. The first group receives normal care only, the second group receives 10 Alexander technique lessons, the third group receives 10 physiotherapy exercise classes, and the fourth group receives both Alexander technique lessons and exercise classes. Participants in all groups are asked to complete questionnaires regarding pain and how well they are functioning after three months and after six months. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? A possible benefit of participating is that participants may experience relief from their back pain. There are no risks of participating in the study. Where is the study run from? Aldermoor Health Centre (UK) When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? September 2011 to September 2013 Who is funding the study? National Institute for Health Research (UK) Who is the main contact? Dr Gillian O’Reilly [email protected]

Critère d'inclusion

• Topic: Primary Care Research Network for England; Subtopic: Not Assigned; Disease: All Diseases

Liens

• ictrp
• isrctn