Sciatica Exercises

 It was a therapeutic technique based on the idea that postural changes can correct certain deficiencies, especially voice and breathing problems, as in actors and musicians.  

It was named after Frederick Matthias Alexander who was an Australian actor who created it that lived from 1869-1955. He devoted the rest of his life to the teaching and propagation of his technique.

According to theorists, back problems may surface when the relationship between the head and spine is poor. Teachers of the Alexander Technique help correct spinal alignment by working very closely with their students on how to sit, stand or walk in a way that takes pressure off the back. A course for training teachers in the Alexander technique was established in London in 1931.

The primary goal of the Alexander Technique is pain relief and optimizing the efficiency in which people perform their day-to-day tasks or activities. This is done through a method of relaxing tensions in the body and correcting problems with movement and posture whether it be sitting, standing, etc. 

McKenzie Method

The McKenzie Method was developed in the 1960’s by Robin McKenzie, a physical therapist in New Zealand. A central tenet of the McKenzie Method is that self-healing and self-treatment are important for the patient’s pain relief and rehabilitation.

In his practice, he noted that extending the spine could provide significant pain relief to certain patients and allow them to return to their normal daily activities. With the McKenzie approach, physical therapy and exercise used to extend the spine can help "centralize" the patient’s pain by moving it away from the arms or legs to the back.

Studies have generally shown the McKenzie approach to back pain to be most useful in situations of degenerative disc. The theory of the approach is that centralizing the pain allows the source of the pain to be treated rather than the symptoms.

Many people know about the McKenzie Method of physical therapy and exercise for back pain or neck pain and a common perception is that the McKenzie approach comprises a set of exercises that people can do on their own. While this is true, the McKenzie Method is really an overall program of assessment, treatment and prevention strategies (including exercise) that are usually best learned with a physical therapist who is trained in the method.

Ultimately, most patients can successfully treat themselves when provided the necessary knowledge and tools. McKenzie treatment uniquely emphasizes education and active patient involvement in the management of their treatment in order to decrease pain quickly, and restore function and independence, minimizing the number of visits to the clinic. An individualized self-treatment program tailored to the lifestyle of the patient puts the patient in control safely and effectively.