The trial involved some 580 patients who were suffering from chronic back pain. It costs the UK economy millions of pounds sterling a year in medical resources and lost productivity. The standard treatment is painkillers like tramadol. Doctors also recommend massage. The study found massage produced some benefits but the effects faded after three months. There was a lower use of tramadol and other painkillers, better long-term mobility and an improved quality of life. In one sense, this is a surprising result because the use of any technique relies on the patient’s motivation. It seems that reducing or relieving back pain is a good spur to learning. This is a reasonably large clinical trial. The Technique is a “cheap” form of treatment. If more people follow the research findings and adopt it, they may benefit and countries like the UK may save valuable medical resources. This August sees the publication of some research in the online British Medical Journal. It is by the Universities of Southampton and Bristol into the use of the Alexander Technique. Technique teaches better posture and other coping strategies combined with a directed physical exercise regime based on walking increasing distances at faster speeds.