Related Terms

• Awareness Through Movement®, bodywork, Feldenkrais bodywork, Functional Integration®, gestalt synergy.

Background

• The Feldenkrais Method® was developed by Moshe Feldenkrais (190-1984), a Russian-born Israeli physicist who was disabled from a knee injury. Dr. Feldenkrais called on his formal training in science and the martial arts to develop an approach that aimed to help the body move in more natural and comfortable ways.

• The Feldenkrais Method® involves stretching, reaching, and changing posture in specific patterns. In some cases, it includes a form of massage. In general, the emphasis of the Feldenkrais Method® is to provide supportive therapy or physical rehabilitation. It has not historically been viewed as a cure for most diseases. Recently, the Feldenkrais Method® has been studied as a means to improve muscle and joint pain, to improve quality of life in chronic conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, and to reduce anxiety levels. Research is still early in these areas, without definitive answers.

• The Feldenkrais Method® can only be offered by practitioners who have trained in accredited programs. Practitioners are registered with Feldenkrais guilds worldwide. In the United States and Canada, practice of the Feldenkrais method is not governmentally regulated.

Theory

• The Feldenkrais Method® is based on the concept that improving patterns of movement may enhance overall physical and psychological performance or recovery from disabling conditions.

• Two basic components of the Feldenkrais Method® include: Awareness Through Movement® and Functional Integration®. These approaches may be used alone or in combination with each other. Feldenkrais practitioners consider Awareness Through Movement® and Functional Integration® to be equivalent and complementary means of achieving improvements in movement patterns.

• Awareness Through Movement® is an approach to body movement that is taught in group sessions by Feldenkrais practitioners. Practitioners verbally lead participants through a series of slow movement sequences that may involve everyday motions such as standing up, sitting down, or reaching, but may also involve abstract movements. These sessions often last between 30 and 60 minutes and may be customized to the ability of individual participants. There are hundreds of Awareness Through Movement® patterns, which vary in complexity and difficulty. The goals of Awareness Through Movement® are to increase awareness of what types of movements work best for a participant, to find sequences of movement to replace uncomfortable or habitual patterns, and to improve flexibility and coordination.

• Functional Integration® involves a hands-on private session with a Feldenkrais practitioner. Participants are fully clothed and may be lying down, sitting, or standing. As with Awareness Through Movement®, the emphasis is on helping participants develop patterns of movement that are efficient and comfortable. The practitioner may touch the participant and move muscles and joints gently within the normal range of motion. Movement sequences are customized to the individual, and through touch, the practitioner may demonstrate new movement patterns. An aim of these sessions is to help identify patterns of movements that are natural and comfortable. It is believed that by leading the body through more functional patterns of movement, the body may learn to move in beneficial ways, resulting in improvements in everyday activities or in symptoms related to medical conditions. Sessions generally last from 30 to 60 minutes.

Scientific Evidence

Tradition/Theory

The below uses are based on tradition or scientific theories. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious and should be evaluated by a qualified health care professional.

• Back pain, chronic pain, enhanced athletic performance (general, improved reaching, increased range of motion in the neck, hamstring lengthening), improving coordination, improving mobility, learning (language, musical instrument), neck stiffness, performance enhancement (motor skills), post-stroke rehabilitation, rehabilitation (for neurologic disorders), rheumatoid arthritis, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

Safety

Many complementary techniques are practiced by healthcare professionals with formal training, in accordance with the standards of national organizations. However, this is not universally the case, and adverse effects are possible. Due to limited research, in some cases only limited safety information is available.

• Reliable scientific studies and reports of safety of the Feldenkrais Method® are currently lacking. However, both Awareness Through Movement® and Functional Integration® appear to work within the body's own range of motion. These techniques are adjusted for the physical capabilities of the participant. Therefore, the Feldenkrais Method® is likely to be safe in most people.

• People with muscle or bone injuries or long-lasting conditions, such as heart disease, should speak with their healthcare providers before starting new therapeutic programs. People considering the Feldenkrais Method® during rehabilitation from an injury or surgery should speak with their healthcare providers or surgeons ahead of time. The Feldenkrais practitioner should be informed of any health condition before starting a session.

• Early studies have found no differences in muscle or tendon length, blood pressure, or heart rate in patients who participate in Feldenkrais sessions, although high-quality studies are lacking in this area.

Author Information

• This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

References

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

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