18 TALKBACK RESEARCH
In 2011, Alexander Technique (AT) teacher and researcher, Mireia Griso led a search for AT in the workplace. Her research, funded by the Foundation for the Prevention of Occupational Risks in Spain, explored international precedents where AT was being applied for the prevention of workplace musculoskeletal disorders. Here, we present her research summary, abridged.
Alexander Technique in the workplace Introduction
Back pain is the world’s leading cause of disability and with several million working days lost to back pain in the UK every year, there is substantial impetus to address the problem. The Alexander Technique (AT) is founded on a psychophysical model of human functioning and brings a new understanding of how the physical and mental habits of a worker impact his/her performance and health. In this context, the general aim of AT is to enable the worker to acquire the tools to change his/her habitual approach to posture, movement, stress management and general co-ordination. Rresearch shows that AT is successfully being used to ward off musculoskeletal symptoms in the long term.
Methodology
The research was carried out in five phases between February and November 2011. Phase 1: There was an exhaustive search for precedents of AT as a tool to prevent occupational risks, and every teacher affiliated with AT associations
ORIGINS OF THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
The Alexander Technique (AT) was developed more than 100 years ago as a means of promoting performance. It is commonly taught to performers such as actors, dancers, musicians, athletes and public speakers, but today it is most commonly sought as a treatment for back pain. Indeed, medical research has demonstrated the effectiveness of AT in the treatment and management of chronic back pain.
TALKBACK l ISSUE 3 2014
worldwide was invited to contribute. This created a database referencing more than 130 books, videos, company reports, scientific studies, pilot studies, case studies, and web pages. Precedents were then verified with the teachers. Phase 2: Precedents that met one or more of the following five criteria were included in the analysis:
1) recent or current precedents (from 2000 onwards) 2) more than 50 workers had been trained in AT 3) a documented evaluation of the implementation 4) a significant level of quality in the training methodology (those involving only an introduction to AT were discarded)
Table 1 Victorinox
Swiss knife company
Unicible
IT company
Siemens AG
AG electrical engineering company
Treuhand GmbH
Accountancy practices
Ville de Lausanne
Town services
D.E.V.K.
Insurance company
Steuerberaterverband Schleswig-Holstein
Tax consultancy
Alliance Insurance Corporation
Insurance company
Chevron-Texaco
Energy company
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Hospital
Israeli Air Force
Army
BBC Bristol
Communications company
Commonwealth Department of Parliamentary Reporting Staff
Australian government department
Holsteiner Catering
Restaurants
Kampovsky
Windows factory
Zurich Financial Services
Insurance company
Palau de la Música Valencia
Orchestra
Kommunal
Trade union
NHS UK
National Health Service
UMassFive College Federal Credit Union
Independent non-profit making financial co-operative
Fundació Collserola
School
CEIP Fontanelles
School
De Hartekamp Groep
Foundation for handicapped people