If the patients say it is good....

.. it is good!?

It is interesting how the BMJ article on Alexander technique generated so much discussions both on the internet from medical communities and at work.

There are the people who call it another crappy research, and another demanding that it needs to be proven scientifically. Does the current science knowledge base knows everything there is to know? Can't people have a little humility and accept they may not know all yet?

While this study is not perfect and not the final proof that Alexander technique may be beneficial for patients with back pain, it is a small step forward. I find it really a case of double standard when criticisms such as lack of double blinding came into play. How many surgical procedure studies have been conducted as double blinded studies? It is not a case of being lax with evidence based standards of complementary medicine, it is a case of comparing the evidence standards for interventions of different nature and make a sensible judgment out of it.

Declaration of interest: A rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patient who had benefited from Alexander technique.