The Mézières method: An asset for balanced aging

As we age, our tissues change, transforming and diminishing the function of our posture. Senescence leads to profound changes as well as a loss of mobility, stability, and a risk of neuromusculoskeletal pathology. These deficiencies ultimately result in a loss of autonomy and increase the risk of falling. The Mézières method, invented in the ’50s, is designed to treat and maintain posture by stretching the muscle chains. Its objective is to balance tensions and joint mobility to regain symmetry and a “beautiful shape,” in the words of Francoise Mézières. It seeks to harmonize the supports, curves, and alignments of the different segments of the body. A growing number of publications demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in many areas, but there are currently no studies on the balance of the elderly. Despite this method’s renown, protocols come up against the holistic and complex aspect of global treatment. However, this approach does hold some promise in terms of the simultaneous correction of posture and support, which could be the subject of future studies and of interest to academics and researchers. Stretching muscular chains provides protection against musculoskeletal disorders while correcting morphology and stability. To stay mobile as we move into old age, it is an ideal method of preventive and curative physiotherapy, relieving the body of excess tension to help prevent pathologies. The overall relaxation and freedom of movement restore an elasticity and ease of movement, enabling balance and proprioception exercises to be better integrated into the body schema.