Some fantastic news about NICE guidelines for people with Parkinson's!
The updated NICE guidelines for the management of people with Parkinson's disease were due to be released in April this year but were delayed due to a legal challenge regarding a pharmaceutical product. In the draft version of this latest update, NICE had removed the existing and long-standing recommendation for Alexander lessons as an option for people with Parkinson's to help them make lifestyle adjustments.
The omission was a result of their misclassification of Alexander lessons as a type of physiotherapy.
STAT made a comprehensive submission challenging this assumption and calling for the recommendation for Alexander lessons to remain. We received very strong support in this from the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), which made its own submission to NICE, making the same case.
The new guidelines have now been published and we are delighted to find that our argument has been accepted. The updated guidelines contain the following statement in the section called 'Non-pharmacological management of motor and non-motor symptoms':
'1.7.4 Consider the Alexander Technique for people with Parkinson's disease who are experiencing balance or motor function problems.'
To see the new guidelines, 'Parkinson's disease in adults' visit: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng71