Objective: Test feasibility of in-person and remote delivery via Zoom of Alexander technique (AT) course to improve quality of life for care partners (CP) of people living with neurodegenerative conditions.
Background: CP often experience loss of self [5]. AT is a cognitive embodiment approach to transform disruptive stress reactions to adaptive responses, increasing confidence, self-control, and agency; 1:1 AT sessions can reduce anxiety with long-term retention of benefits [1-4].
Method: In person: 75 Parkinson’s CP. 7 NC cities & DC (63W/12M): 65 (55W/10M) completed course; 57 completed 12-month study (51W/6M). Mean age 67. Online: AT Group: 20 dementia CP. 11 states (18W/2M). 14 completed course (12W/2M). Mean age 68. Control Group: 9 CP (8F/1M). 4 states. Mean age 63. Intervention: AT groups met 90 min/week x 10wks. Taught intentional strategies to interrupt automatic reactions and affirm centrality of the self. Verbal instruction, hands-on guidance in person, activities, anatomical models/images, and videos. AT principles are embedded in daily activities (gait, sit-to-stand, IADLs, etc.). Strategies are simple enough to be used independently. Outcome Measures: Attendance, study retention, anonymous evaluations, interviews, executive function (EF), self-reports.
Results: In Person: Attendance 85%. Retention 87%. EF improved (p<.05 for Stroop and backward digit span). On 0–10 scale, mean rating was 9.5 enjoying interaction with participants, 9.2 encountered new ideas, 8.4 learned skills to care for myself emotionally, 8.3 likely to use new skills in daily life, 8.0 feeling better prepared for daily demands of caregiving. Online: Attendance 87%. Retention 70%. AT group improved EF; control group did not. On 0-10 scale, mean rating was >9 for novelty of ideas, practical tools for physical self-management, and would recommend to a friend; and >8 for enjoyment of group interaction, and practical tools for self-management of emotions, reactions, and prevention of pain; 7.9 for feeling better prepared for CP challenges.
Conclusion: Alexander technique is a feasible self-care approach to increase agency in CP of people with serious neurodegenerative disease. Potential long-term benefit retention. Group classes can provide cost-effective delivery and added social benefits. Online delivery can increase accessibility. Full-scale study comparing delivery methods is merited.
References: 1.Little (2008) 2.MacPherson (2015) 3.Klein (2014) 4.Stallibrass (2002) 5.Skaff, Pearlin (1992)
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
M. Gross, R. Cohen, J. Bellingham, P. Brisset, C. Condie, S. Lazaro, B. Mello, A. Abdelrahman, J. Becker, S. Smith, T. Moote, W. Trusty. Feasibility of in-person and remote delivery of Alexander technique course for care partners of people with neurodegenerative disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2022; 37 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/feasibility-of-in-person-and-remote-delivery-of-alexander-technique-course-for-care-partners-of-people-with-neurodegenerative-disease/. Accessed May 14, 2025.« Back to 2022 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/feasibility-of-in-person-and-remote-delivery-of-alexander-technique-course-for-care-partners-of-people-with-neurodegenerative-disease/