Initial Relaxation Response: Contrasts between Clinical Patients and Normal Volunteers

The effectiveness of EMG biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, and self-relaxation were compared using a within-subjects design. Thirteen clinical subjects and 48 normal volunteers participated in 4 counterbalanced relaxation sessions using one of the techniques. Frontalis EMG and surface skin temperature were monitored throughout the sessions. For reducing EMG, biofeedback was more effective than the other three techniques. A significant interaction of treatment X subjects was found for changes in skin temperature. Clinical subjects had the greatest increase in skin temperature with EMG biofeedback and analog subjects responded best to self-relaxation. There were no significant differences in initial measures of EMG or skin temperature for the two samples.

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Initial Relaxation Response: Personality and Treatment Factors

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1985.57.3.827 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

pp. 827-830 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. R. Rawson ◽

N. S. Bhatnagar ◽

H. G. Schneider

Keyword(s):

Pulse Rate ◽

State Anxiety ◽

Relaxation Training ◽

Muscle Relaxation ◽

Relative Effectiveness ◽

Emg Biofeedback ◽

Progressive Muscle Relaxation ◽

The Other ◽

Relaxation Response ◽

Dependent Variables

The relative effectiveness of three techniques used for relaxation training (EMG Biofeedback, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, and Self-relaxation) was compared for 12 subjects who scored high or low on trait anxiety. Dependent variables included change scores based on EMG readings and pulse rate and posttreatment State-anxiety. Pulse rate was significantly affected by the type of treatment, i.e., Progressive Muscle Relaxation produced less decrease in pulse rate than the other two techniques. EMG and State anxiety measures did not differ as a function of treatment.

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Paradoxical Instructions in Relaxation Training

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1986.63.2.407 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 407-412

Author(s):

L. H. Anderson ◽

H. G. Schneider

Keyword(s):

Skin Temperature ◽

Temperature Change ◽

Relaxation Training ◽

Standard Treatment ◽

Muscle Relaxation ◽

Training Session ◽

Emg Biofeedback ◽

Progressive Muscle Relaxation ◽

Treatment Technique ◽

Main Effect

The effects of instructions (paradoxical versus standard), treatment technique (EMG biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation and self-relaxation) and subjects' sex were investigated in a 2 by 3 by 2 between-subjects design. Dependent measures were the changes in EMG and skin temperature over one 40-min. training session for 72 volunteers. For EMG change, the main effect of training was significant, with muscle relaxation producing less reduction than other techniques. This finding reflected an increase in EMG in the 5-min. posttreatment interval for the muscle relaxation group. For temperature change, the interaction of instructions and sex was significant, indicating that paradoxical instructions produced greater increases in temperature than standard instructions for men but not for women.

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