The Egoscue Method of correcting posture is an alternative treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain caused by postural dysfunction. As an alternative treatment that relies on word-of-mouth for advertisement, it is not a well-known option for pain patients. Learning about alternative options will give you more opportunity to find the treatment right for you.
The health and cost concerns associated with pain medications have led to growing awareness of drug-free treatment options. The Egoscue Method is one that relies on the body to heal itself. The program consists of gentle exercises that are meant to strengthen muscles that will pull your body structures back into alignment.
Egoscue Treatment Options
There are a number of ways to approach the Egoscue Method; you can seek treatment at an established clinic, a traveling clinic, online, with a book or with a DVD. The option that’s right for you depends on your location, budget and the extent of your postural dysfunction.
If traveling is not the best option for you, you can arrange face time with an Egoscue specialist over the computer through Skype appointments. This requires a computer with a webcam. This option allows a specialist to analyze you from the comfort of your own home. You can also arrange to conduct treatment through email correspondence and send pictures of your posture to a specialist.
Some people find sufficient help with a book or DVD. Egoscue books, “The Egoscue Method of Health Through Motion: Revolutionary Program That Lets You Rediscover the Body’s Power to Rejuvenate It” and “Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain” are available to those seeking a self-study approach. The former book emphasizes a whole-body approach while the latter focuses on individual problem areas such as the hips or knees.
These books include assessments of common postural dysfunction patterns that aim to facilitate self-diagnosis. They also include exercises specific to different postural dysfunctions and explanations of proper execution of exercises. These books are heavily focused on educating people about anatomy to correct and prevent pain conditions.
“Egoscue: Pain-Free Workout Series” is a DVD that takes a very general approach to posture correction. The exercise program prescribed in it doesn’t aim to correct any specific postural dysfunction pattern.
All of these options may help relieve back pain and other conditions caused by poor posture.
Cost
The cost of Egoscue treatment depends on the approach you choose and the length of your therapy. Books and DVDs are the most affordable option, costing $20.00 or less. A significant time investment is involved in the book approach. Any thorough treatment of a chronic problem, however, is likely to take some time.
Skype or clinic visits cost the most. 8 sessions cost $1495.00, and 16 sessions cost $2,495.00. Email correspondence with an Egoscue specialist costs $99.00 for individual correspondences or $595.00 for 8 correspondences.
Reviews
Reading reviews of treatments when possible is one of the best ways to ensure their effectiveness, although treatment effectiveness often differs from person to person. Sites like Amazon and Yelp show high ratings for the book, DVD and clinic treatment options. The review of all treatment options found at recoveryourstride.blogspot.com is especially helpful; the author discusses the pros and cons of each option. The author notes that serious musculoskeletal dysfunctions, such as a crooked leg, may not be helped by the Egoscue method. It is better suited to people without severe muscle imbalances or deformities. Those with severe imbalances will need myofascial therapy.
When considering a chronic pain treatment, it is important to do your research to ensure you’re not wasting more time and money on something that won’t work. The Egoscue method may be helpful to those with posture-related pain, but take into consideration the investments you’ll need to make before diving in.