Open data · CC BY 4.0
The Feldenkrais Evidence Atlas.
The randomised trials on the Feldenkrais Method, summarised clearly and assessed honestly. For anyone who wants to know what the research really shows, and free to use for teachers, associations and the media.
| Year | First author | Topic | Participants (n) | Compared with | Result in one sentence | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Berland R | Reviews | 16 randomised trials | 16 randomised trials | Improvements mainly in balance in older adults (Timed Up and Go test) and in pain and daily function in chronic low back pain, where results were similar to back school and core stability training. | Details → |
| 2024 | Cochrane Australia | Reviews | 10 randomised trials | 10 randomised trials | The certainty of evidence is very low; it is unclear whether Feldenkrais improves pain, function or falls. No eligible studies on stress, anxiety or mood. | Details → |
| 2017 | Paolucci | Back | 53 | back school | Pain fell in both groups, with no difference between them. | Details → |
| 2001 | Smith | Back | 26 | spoken text without movement | The emotional side of pain eased in the Feldenkrais group; anxiety did not differ. | Details → |
| 2020 | Ahmadi | Back | 60 | education plus core stability training | The Feldenkrais group scored better on quality of life, body awareness and disability; pain did not differ. | Details → |
| 2014 | Lundqvist | Neck and shoulder | 61 | no intervention | Muscle complaints fell in the Feldenkrais group, while tenderness to pressure rose in the control group. | Details → |
| 1999 | Lundblad | Neck and shoulder | 97 | physiotherapy or waiting list | Complaints and leisure-time disability decreased in the Feldenkrais group, but not in the comparison groups. | Details → |
| 1994 | Chinn | Neck and shoulder | 23 | sham lesson | Perceived effort dropped; reaching distance did not change. | Details → |
| 2009 | Vrantsidis | Balance in older age | 62 | waiting list | Fear of falling and walking speed improved; the Timed Up and Go test showed only a trend. | Details → |
| 2010 | Ullmann | Balance in older age | 47 | waiting list | Balance, mobility and fear of falling improved in the Feldenkrais group. | Details → |
| 2014 | Nambi | Balance in older age | 60 | Pilates or a walking programme | Both Feldenkrais and Pilates improved balance; Pilates did somewhat better clinically. | Details → |
| 2017 | Palmer | Balance in older age | 124 | waiting list | Those who attended more often improved more in reach and daily function, and more people in the Feldenkrais group reported positive change. The Timed Up and Go test did not differ. | Details → |
| 1999 | Johnson | Multiple sclerosis | 20 (crossover design) | sham manual treatment | Perceived stress fell after Feldenkrais; other measures did not change. | Details → |
| 2001 | Stephens | Multiple sclerosis | 12 | education sessions | Balance and balance confidence improved in the Feldenkrais group. | Details → |
| 2015 | Teixeira-Machado | Parkinson's | 30 | reading sessions | Better quality of life and fewer depressive symptoms in the Feldenkrais group. | Details → |
| 2017 | Teixeira-Machado | Parkinson's | 30 | reading sessions | The Feldenkrais group did better on every functional test. | Details → |
| 2009 | Quintero | Other | 26 | control group | Head posture changed more in the Feldenkrais group. | Details → |
| 2017 | Torres-Unda | Other | 41 | no intervention | Better physical performance scores and less body sway when standing. | Details → |
2022 · Berland R · Reviews
Feldenkrais as a physiotherapy tool: meta-analysis of 16 trials (2022)
- Participants (n)
- 16 randomised trials
- Compared with
- 16 randomised trials
Improvements mainly in balance in older adults (Timed Up and Go test) and in pain and daily function in chronic low back pain, where results were similar to back school and core stability training.
Details →2024 · Cochrane Australia · Reviews
Review for the Australian Government (2024)
- Participants (n)
- 10 randomised trials
- Compared with
- 10 randomised trials
The certainty of evidence is very low; it is unclear whether Feldenkrais improves pain, function or falls. No eligible studies on stress, anxiety or mood.
Details →2017 · Paolucci · Back
Low back pain: Feldenkrais compared with back school (2017)
- Participants (n)
- 53
- Compared with
- back school
Pain fell in both groups, with no difference between them.
Details →2001 · Smith · Back
Low back pain: a single breathing lesson (2001)
- Participants (n)
- 26
- Compared with
- spoken text without movement
The emotional side of pain eased in the Feldenkrais group; anxiety did not differ.
Details →2020 · Ahmadi · Back
Low back pain: Feldenkrais compared with core stability training (2020)
- Participants (n)
- 60
- Compared with
- education plus core stability training
The Feldenkrais group scored better on quality of life, body awareness and disability; pain did not differ.
Details →2014 · Lundqvist · Neck and shoulder
Neck: people with visual impairment (2014)
- Participants (n)
- 61
- Compared with
- no intervention
Muscle complaints fell in the Feldenkrais group, while tenderness to pressure rose in the control group.
Details →1999 · Lundblad · Neck and shoulder
Neck and shoulder at work (1999)
- Participants (n)
- 97
- Compared with
- physiotherapy or waiting list
Complaints and leisure-time disability decreased in the Feldenkrais group, but not in the comparison groups.
Details →1994 · Chinn · Neck and shoulder
Neck and shoulder: a single audio lesson (1994)
- Participants (n)
- 23
- Compared with
- sham lesson
Perceived effort dropped; reaching distance did not change.
Details →2009 · Vrantsidis · Balance in older age
Balance in older age: the ‘Getting Grounded Gracefully’ programme (2009)
- Participants (n)
- 62
- Compared with
- waiting list
Fear of falling and walking speed improved; the Timed Up and Go test showed only a trend.
Details →2010 · Ullmann · Balance in older age
Balance and fear of falling over 65 (2010)
- Participants (n)
- 47
- Compared with
- waiting list
Balance, mobility and fear of falling improved in the Feldenkrais group.
Details →2014 · Nambi · Balance in older age
Balance in older age: Feldenkrais, Pilates and walking compared (2014)
- Participants (n)
- 60
- Compared with
- Pilates or a walking programme
Both Feldenkrais and Pilates improved balance; Pilates did somewhat better clinically.
Details →2017 · Palmer · Balance in older age
Older adults: attendance and effect (2017)
- Participants (n)
- 124
- Compared with
- waiting list
Those who attended more often improved more in reach and daily function, and more people in the Feldenkrais group reported positive change. The Timed Up and Go test did not differ.
Details →1999 · Johnson · Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis: stress and wellbeing (1999)
- Participants (n)
- 20 (crossover design)
- Compared with
- sham manual treatment
Perceived stress fell after Feldenkrais; other measures did not change.
Details →2001 · Stephens · Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis: balance (2001)
- Participants (n)
- 12
- Compared with
- education sessions
Balance and balance confidence improved in the Feldenkrais group.
Details →2015 · Teixeira-Machado · Parkinson's
Parkinson's: quality of life (2015)
- Participants (n)
- 30
- Compared with
- reading sessions
Better quality of life and fewer depressive symptoms in the Feldenkrais group.
Details →2017 · Teixeira-Machado · Parkinson's
Parkinson's: everyday mobility (2017)
- Participants (n)
- 30
- Compared with
- reading sessions
The Feldenkrais group did better on every functional test.
Details →2009 · Quintero · Other
Children who grind their teeth: head posture (2009)
- Participants (n)
- 26
- Compared with
- control group
Head posture changed more in the Feldenkrais group.
Details →2017 · Torres-Unda · Other
Adults with intellectual disability: balance (2017)
- Participants (n)
- 41
- Compared with
- no intervention
Better physical performance scores and less body sway when standing.
Details →
How certain is this?
We assess each study with three simple questions: Were participants randomly assigned? How many people took part? Are there other studies with a similar result? A single small study is a pointer, not proof. A result only becomes reliable when several independent studies point in the same direction.
Free to use
The Evidence Atlas is licensed under CC BY 4.0. You're free to use it, on your website, in course materials or in the press, as long as you credit ‘Source: The BodyIQ Evidence Atlas (thebodyiq.eu/research)’.
Frequently asked questions
- Are there scientific studies on the Feldenkrais Method?
- Yes. A 2022 review analysed 16 randomised trials, and there are further evaluations. Most research covers balance in older age, the back, and the neck and shoulder. Most trials are small, so the certainty is considered low.
- Does Feldenkrais help with back pain?
- In three small trials, pain and daily function improved to a similar extent as with back school or core stability training. Larger trials are needed for a firm conclusion.
Status of the review: October 2026. Based on the review by Berland et al. (2022) and the evidence evaluation by Cochrane Australia (2024). Missing a study? Write to us at hello@feldenkrais-marketing.de.