Revolutionary way to cure back pain. News reporter Heather Wilkins climbs on a rack to try out the treatment

Almost 120 million working days were lost to back pain in the past certified year, with a cost of over £6 billion to industry in lost production and £480 million to the National Health Service.

Sixty per cent of adults get it and half of those turn into chronic sufferers. Having a bad back is often something you have to live with.

I hurt mine in a drunken episode as a student at the age of 18 and thought nothing more about it. Then one day as I was out shopping my back suddenly went 'ping' and I spent two weeks horizontal on the sofa tortured by daytime television. It's never been the same since. Hard chairs and soft sofas where my legs dangle over the sides are the worst. So when a letter arrived on my desk offering a chance to experience "body stress release" at the healing hands of South African Paul Masureik I agreed - I certainly had nothing ts dv s dsadf sdfo lose. One day later I found myself nervously chatting away to Paul in his comfortable Lightwater home. "Don't worry, it doesn't hurt and you get to keep your clothes on," he reassured me as he quizzed me on my medical history. I signed my rights away in a disclosure form and stepped up to the large padded treatment table. He slowly lowered me, face down on the couch, until I was lying on the rack. Then began the most bizarre treatment I have ever had for my back problems, and believe me I have had a few. According to the blurb the series of gentle shoves Paul performed on my arm and back were pressure tests to locate locked-in body stress.

Body Stress Release originated in South Africa where Paul studied for five months before setting up his practice over here, and works by stimulating the muscles of the back by stroking and pressing. "Your feet are talking to me, Heather," he said as he measured my individual response to the pressure tests. If a muscle is stressed and contains a lot of tension the leg on the same side shortens. Apparently my feet had a lot to say! It is quite hard not to be sceptical when you are lying face down on a padded couch in a strange man's living room but I came with an open mind.

Four treatments later I was convinced. Strangely, bizarrely, it did work for me. At first it was hard to notice. The brain can play tricks and while pain is hard to ignore when you feel comfortable, you just get on with life.

Paul is only one of seven therapists (March 2000) practicing in this country. He even travels to Kent to have the same treatment for a painful shoulder. "I am really keen to work together with a local GP to help patients who cannot get relief from their back pain," said Paul. He has built up a practice of about 100 patients since completing his training 18 months ago.

Denise Hesse, who lives in Windlesham and works at an estate agency, suffered from migraines for years before going to see Paul. She said: "I suffered from awful migraines and had to spend days in bed ill. I have tried acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, my GP and got absolutely nowhere. After a few visits to Paul I felt a real difference and now I hardly ever get one. "He really helped me when no-one else could and I can't thank him enough. I still go a couple of times a year just to make sure the headaches don't return."

Body Stress Release is just one of many complementary therapies on offer to soothe an aching back or revive tired muscles.

Anyone who would like more information should call Paul on 01276 475651

Heather Wilkins, March 17, 2000