Lighten Up! A conversation with Rajal Cohen - Part I
The ASO Newsletter - 29th Edition
Helping you stay connected to research on the Alexander Technique
Introduction
This month we share the background research to an upcoming conversation with Rajal Cohen, M.AmSAT, Ph.D., about a series of three papers she and colleagues published on the effects of postural instructions on people living with Parkinson’s and on healthy older and younger adults. For instance, Rajal and her team have explored how frequently-used instructions to make an effort to stand up straight can actually impair the ability to balance.
Next month we will post a conversation with Rajal where we discuss some of the background to the research, how the methods came about, and ideas for where the line of work might go next. Links to download all three papers are below.
Three Publications For Download
References
Cohen, R. G., & Hocketstaller, J. (2023). Postural instructions affect postural sway in young adults. Gait & Posture, 100, 193-195.
Cohen, R. G., Baer, J. L., Ravichandra, R., Kral, D., McGowan, C., & Cacciatore, T. W. (2020). Lighten up! Postural instructions affect static and dynamic balance in healthy older adults. Innovation in aging, 4(2), igz056.
Cohen, R. G., Gurfinkel, V. S., Kwak, E., Warden, A. C., & Horak, F. B. (2015). Lighten up: specific postural instructions affect axial rigidity and step initiation in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Neurorehabilitation and neural repair, 29(9), 878-888.
See you next month for a discussion involving the above three papers!
Thank You
Thank you for being here and supporting research on the Alexander Technique and its teaching. Special thanks to Rajal Cohen for her generous contribution to this post. To all community members who have contributed so far, thank you! Your work is appreciated and making a difference.
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