Article

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with stooped postural
alignment, increased postural sway, and reduced mobility. The Alexander Technique
(AT) is a mindfulness-based approach to improving posture and mobility by
reducing muscular interference while maintaining upward intentions. Evidence
suggests that AT can reduce disability associated with PD, but a mechanism for
this effect has not yet been established. OBJECTIVE:
We investigated whether
AT-based instructions reduce axial rigidity and increase upright postural
alignment, and whether these instructions have different effects on postural
alignment, axial rigidity, postural sway, and mobility than effort-based
instructions regarding posture. METHOD: Twenty subjects with PD practiced 2 sets
of instructions and then attempted to implement both approaches (as well as a
relaxed control condition) during quiet standing and step initiation. The
"Lighten Up" instructions relied on AT principles of reducing excess tension
while encouraging length. The "Pull Up" instructions relied on popular concepts
of effortful posture correction. We measured kinematics, resistance to axial
rotation, and ground reaction forces. RESULTS: Both sets of experimental
instructions led to increases in upright postural alignment relative to the
control condition. Only the Lighten Up instructions led to reduced postural sway,
reduced axial postural tone, greater modifiability of tone, and a smoother center
of pressure trajectory during step initiation, possibly indicating greater
movement efficiency. CONCLUSION: Mindful movement approaches such as AT may
benefit balance and mobility in subjects with PD by acutely facilitating
increased upright postural alignment while decreasing rigidity.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS