Editors Note: Postural Homeostasis is a collection of Dr Wilfred Barlow’s writings on the Alexander Technique from 1944 to 1982. Barlow attempted some of the first studies of the Alexander Technique, and many of his papers were published in journals such as The British Medical Journal and The Lancet. Barlow is a figure […]
Category: General AT
Study Summary: What We Do Before the Thing We’re Doing—Research on Anticipation, Inhibition, and Posture.
This post summarizes research by Jason Baer, Anita Vasavada, and Rajal Cohen, “Neck posture is influenced by anticipation of stepping,” published in Human Movement Science in 2019. It was originally published at Alexander &. A common reason people study the Alexander Technique is to improve their posture. Many students are […]
Describing Alexander Technique Phenomena Objectively: Separating Observation & Explanation, Avoiding Jargon & Spin
How do Alexander teachers talk about the Alexander Technique? In this essay, Patrick Johnson writes about his experience teaching science workshops to Alexander teachers with Tim Cacciatore and how common ways of talking about the Alexander Technique can reinforce out-of-date scientific ideas and faulty reasoning. By learning to clearly separate […]
“Science Catches Up”: An Overview of Research on the Alexander Technique
In August, 2018, Dr. Rajal Cohen was a featured speaker for one of three plenary sessions at the International Alexander Technique Congress in Chicago. Her talk, “Science Catches Up,” provides an overview of current research on the phenomena and concepts that underly the Alexander Technique. She discusses research from her […]
Debauched Kinesthesia and Faulty Sensory Appreciation
In this post, Dr. Rajal Cohen discusses how the Alexander Technique concept of faulty sensory appreciation or debauched kinesthesia intersects with the science of sensation and perception. Alexander Technique teachers refer at times to faulty sensory appreciation, unreliable sensory appreciation, or debauched kinesthesia to explain why a student may feel […]
Study Summary: Alexander Technique Lessons Reduce Knee Pain and Co-contraction in Subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis
This post summarizes research by Stephen Preece, et al, “Reductions in co-contraction following neuromuscular re-education in people with knee osteoarthritis,” published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders in 2016. It was originally published at Alexander &. A study on the Alexander Technique and knee pain was published last month [Editor’s note: August, 2016] in […]
Study Summary: “Lighten Up” or “Pull Up”? Alexander Technique-type Instruction and Parkinson’s Disease.
This post summarizes research by Rajal Cohen, et al, “Lighten Up: Specific Postural Instructions Affect Axial Rigidity and Step Initiation in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease,” published in Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair in 2015. It was originally published at Alexander &. Word came last week [Editor’s Note: February, 2015] about a new study published in […]