Thanks!

I know almost nothing about the Alexander Technique but was present at the *Dystonia Daze Symposium* in Reno, Nevada from October 18-20, 2002 when a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) presented and demonstrated some of her methods. She uses the Alexander Technique, among many others.

Her name is Hallie J. Robbins, DO. She is located in Salt Lake City. E-mail address: IntegRehab@aol.com.

The symposium was great and I learned alot but it was directed toward the needs of Spasmodic Torticollis (Cervical Dystonia) patients. Just like Abigail Brown's ST techniques (who was also in Reno), many of these techniques are focused on the large muscles of the body (neck). I was *very* impressed with Dr. Robbins (results and integrity) and spoke to her privately, after her presentation. I learned more than I've ever known about specific muscles in the shoulder/back/neck area, and I've been a chiropractic patient for over 20 years! I should have already known what I learned from her. Dr. Robbins made it VERY clear, in description and anatomical pictures, that there was a difference between the large muscles and small muscles in the neck.

The "small muscles" are the layrngeal muscles - the TA, PCA, LCA, etc. The ones that are affected when we have SD and are impacted by various treatments. Botox, etc. The main "large" neck muscle is the SCM, which is the major muscle affected by Spasmodic Torticollis (causes twisting, contortions and huge pains), but there are others. There are 40 muscles in the neck. Our laryngeal muscles are the very smallest.

After that great Reno Symposium, I started thinking of my friends with ST as "the large neck-muscle people" and us vocal patients as "the small neck-muscle people." It helps me understand how similar and yet how different we (with two different focal dystonias) are. This terminology is helpful because I have so many personal friends with ST who don't understand my vocal issues, because I don't experience the physical pain they do.

Having tried numerous alternative therapies for my SD over 12 years (chiropractic, massage, craniosacral, intensive vitamin therapy, hypnosis, biofeedback, magnets, yoga, etc.), I'm convinced that *lowering stress and tension* greatly helps all human bodies; but, with an extremely severe SD case, these methods do not address my vocal disorder. It depends on how severe a case is. I can certainly see how a mild SD case would be eased with any of these alternative methods, if applied by a competent practitioner.

The Alexander Technique emphasizes posture. I have a bad back also so it's probably quite helpful for the large neck/shoulder muscle groups and may ease any of our bodies which are *settling* in as we age. I personally wouldn't expect "vocal results" however. Also, if I was doing it myself, I'd watch the amount of $$$$$ for treatments. It's not a vocal panacea.

Good luck, Doris. Let me know if you look into it further. I watched Dr. Robbins demo on an ST patient with tremor and twisting and pain and she said she felt more relaxed afterward. It was her large neck muscles being worked, however. ST, not SD.

Thanks for your post.

Goodnight All,