Neurological Sciences Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA.
Gait Posture. 2011 Oct;34(4):496-501. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.06.026. Epub 2011 Jul 22.
The Alexander Technique (AT) is used to improve postural and movement coordination and has been reported to be clinically beneficial, however its effect on movement coordination is not well-characterized. In this study we examined the sit-to-stand (STS) movement by comparing coordination (phasing, weight-shift and spinal movement) between AT teachers (n=15) and matched control subjects (n=14). We found AT teachers had a longer weight-shift (p<0.001) and shorter momentum transfer phase (p=0.01), than control subjects. AT teachers also increased vertical foot force monotonically, rather than unweighting the feet prior to seat-off, suggesting they generate less forward momentum with hip flexors. The prolonged weight-shift of AT teachers occurred over a greater range of trunk inclination, such that their weight shifted continuously onto the feet while bringing the body mass forward. Finally, AT teachers had greatly reduced spinal bending during STS (cervical, p<0.001; thoracic, p<0.001; lumbar, p<0.05). We hypothesize that the low hip joint stiffness and adaptive axial postural tone previously reported in AT teachers underlies this novel "continuous" STS strategy by facilitating eccentric contractions during weight-shift.
亚历山大技术（AT）用于改善姿势和运动协调性，据报道具有临床益处，但它对运动协调性的影响尚未得到很好的描述。在这项研究中，我们通过比较 AT 教师（n=15）和匹配的对照组受试者（n=14）的坐姿到站姿（STS）运动，来检查协调（相位、重量转移和脊柱运动）。我们发现 AT 教师的重量转移时间更长（p<0.001），动量转移相更短（p=0.01）。AT 教师还使垂直足力单调增加，而不是在座椅抬起前减轻脚部重量，这表明他们在使用髋关节屈肌时产生的向前动量更少。AT 教师的重量转移时间延长，是因为他们在将身体质量向前移动的同时，使躯干倾斜度更大，从而连续将重量转移到脚上。最后，AT 教师在 STS 期间的脊柱弯曲大大减少（颈椎，p<0.001；胸椎，p<0.001；腰椎，p<0.05）。我们假设，之前在 AT 教师中报道的髋关节低刚度和适应性轴向姿势张力，为这种新的“连续”STS 策略提供了基础，从而在重量转移过程中促进了离心收缩。
