Mézières Method London
Mézières or Global Postural Re-education uses a combination of specific stretching postures, breath work and hands on therapy. Eleonora Sansoni offers Mézières postural rehabilitation sessions. She is an Osteopath, Cranial Osteopath, Nutritionist, Mézières and Pilates Instructor. In our below blog we discuss the aims, narrative and what is involved.
French Physiotherapist
The Mézières method of postural re-education was developed by French physiotherapist Francoise Mézières in 1947. Francoise realised that the muscles acting on the whole back worked as a single unit. If there was increased tension in one part this would cause an unbalance, dysfunction and pain in another. The aim of this technique is to lengthen and soften the muscular chains to restore balance with the function of the whole body. Francoise suggested if the structure was not balanced, the function would be disturbed as a consequence. This technique uses a combination of specific stretching postures, breath work and hands on therapy. The aim is to achieve a postural change through the work on the muscular chain balance. Also studies have shown the technique help reduce lower back pain, headaches and sciatica.
Mézières Method London
It is important to mention that Francoise viewed every patient differently and therefore needs to be individually studied and treated. Any pathology, osteo-muscular or otherwise presents differently. Therefore there are no standard protocols but individual plans will be created. Moreover it does not treat the painful area. This method seeks to reduce muscular tensions to reduce pressure onto the symptomatic area.
Treating Patients
Francoise designed a way of treating patients based on her discoveries. Instead of working on the area of dysfunction this method restores balance through a reshaping of the whole body. This is achieved through an eccentric static contraction of the muscular chains. By stretching the tight muscular chains, the strength of the weakened antagonist muscles (mainly the quadriceps and abdominal muscles) improves automatically.
You will hold a stretch until all compensations are eliminated. Every treatment is different and as such each client will experience different reactions as a consequence. The work is very physical for both patient and therapist. This method will address the cause of your discomfort through a global approach which will provide a long term solution. Typically you will require a course of weekly treatment for 6 weeks and then reassess depending on your presenting symptoms.
“I have experienced chronic low back and shoulder pain for years and tried various different therapies. Whilst in Brazil I tried Mézières which I found to be useful. I was trying to find a practitioner in London for a while and then found Wellthy Clinic on the internet. I booked up my first with Eleonora which involved a case history and Osteopathy treatment which helped. She was attentive, really listened and I really felt like she understood me. Moving forwards we did a mixture of Mézières sessions and Osteopathy. I have tended to have strong treatment reactions to Mézières with an increase in symptoms before it resolved and then felt better. I was told in advance this was normal and all part of the healing process so felt reassured. After 6 sessions I felt so much better with both my lower back and my shoulder pains. I now continue to have weekly Pilates sessions at Wellthy to proactively manage my symptoms. Such a great service, thank you again guys”
Treatments Goals
Discover the causes of your discomfort and help to reduce pain
Reduce muscle tightness, joint stiffness and restore lost balance.
Help re-align your posture
Provide clients with self-management tools
What does This Treatment Involve:
Holding specific global stretching postures for a prolonged time of which the practitioner will manually correct.
Breathing exercises
Hands on therapy
What Conditions can the Treatment Help with?
Reduce pain and increase function for people with spinal conditions (ankylosing spondylitis)
“Having previously seen multiple therapists I contacted Wellthy Clinic as I was experiencing neck pain, lower back pain and digestive issues and was losing hope as nothing seemed to be reducing my symptoms. A doctor GP in Rome recommended I should try Mézières method to see if that could make a positive difference. I’m pleased to say as soon as I met Eleonora Sansoni I felt I was in safe hands. She explained the cause of my symptoms and formulated a structured rehabilitation plan. This plan not only addressed my posture to improve my flexibility, improve my movements and reduce pains but I also received nutrition top tips and advice on supplements to speed up healing. She also gave strengthening and stretching ‘homework’ exercises to be getting on with between sessions. I received a mixture of Osteopathy and Mézières depending on how I responded to the previous treatment. After 4 sessions I felt much better, after 6 sessions I feel amazing and I’m so pleased to met Eleonora. I would definitely recommend Wellthy Clinic. ”
The Six Laws
First law: Your muscles on the back of your body (posterior) behave like a single muscle. This is because 97% of the posterior muscles are multi-joint muscles (they extend over a minimum of two joints). Francoise named this special anatomical arrangement a Muscular Chain. She believed there were four muscular chains in our bodies. The main one is your back (or posterior) muscular chain, running from your head to your toes. Second law: The posterior muscles are too short and too strong.
Third law: Any localised action, either of lengthening or shortening, results in the immediate shortening of the entire posterior musculature.
Fourth law: Any attempt to resist this shortening provokes, instantaneously, sidebending and rotations of the spine and limbs.
Fifth law: The limbs always rotate internally (i.e. they turn inwards).
Sixth law: Any stretch, pain, untwisting, concentration or effort makes the patient hold their breath. Also fix their rib-cage into a position of inspiration.
Global Postural Rehabilitation
Eleonora qualified in the Mézières method. A whole body approach that focuses on increasing the functionality of movement and reducing pain through specific postural techniques. These are designed to elongate the whole back muscular chain of your body and encourage neutral spine alignment.
Healthcare in London
At Wellthy Clinic our Osteopath offers Mézières method postural rehabilitation. On your initial consultation we will discuss your symptoms and assess your posture and active movements. On the first session only we will deliver an hands on Osteopathy session due to time restraint (a case history taking can take up to 20 minutes of your hourly session, leaving therefore not enough time to deliver the full Mézières session) and to assess whether Mézières or a traditional osteopathic treatment is the most suitable therapy for your specific case. The Mézières treatment is challenging and it is important to have a good mobility before starting a course of sessions. It can be useful to help manage a number of different conditions and provide holistic approaches for fibromyalgia management for example.
If you have any further questions feel free to get in contact with us, or go ahead and book a consultation to get started with your Mézières treatment!
References
Bonetti et al (2010) Effectiveness of a ‘Global Postural Reeducation’ program for persistent low back pain: a non-randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders https://europepmc.org/article/MED/21162726
Lawand et al (2015) Effect of a muscle stretching program using the global postural reeducation method for patients with chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Joint Bone Spine, 82(4): pp 272-277 https://europepmc.org/article/med/25881758
Lena et al (2019) The Effectiveness of the Mézières Method in Elite Rhythmic Gymnastics Athletes With Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial Human Kinetics Journals https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jsr/29/7/article-p913.xml
Lomas-Vega et al (2017) Effectiveness of Global Postural Re-education for Treatment of Spinal Disorders: A Meta-analysis American Journal of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27386815/
Matos et al (2020) Analysis of pain symptoms, flexibility and hydroxyproline concentration in individuals with low back pain submitted to Global Postural Re-education and stretching Pain Management; 10(3): pp. 167-177 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32352877/
Pillastrini et al (2016) Effectiveness of Global Postural Re-education in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial Physical Therapy https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27013576/
Eleonora Sansoni
Eleonora Sansoni is an Mezieres therapist, Osteopath, Nutritionist and Pilates instructor.
Eleonora has a specific interest in chronic pain and postural alignment. She gained her Mezieres certification through Jean Marc Citton a French osteopath who was a direct student of Francoise Mezieres. She is passionate about educating and empowering others to take positive steps to feel better.