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Muscle stretching as an alternative relaxation training procedure
C R Carlson1, F L Collins, A J Nitz
1University of Kentucky.
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|March 1, 1990
Summary
Muscle stretching relaxation techniques effectively reduced muscle tension and arousal in a clinical population. Compared to tense-release methods, stretching showed greater reductions in sadness and muscle activity.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Relaxation training is crucial for managing clinical populations.
- Existing methods like tense-release (TR) are established but may have limitations.
- Muscle stretching offers a potential alternative or adjunct for relaxation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of muscle stretching (SR) relaxation procedures.
- To compare SR with traditional TR techniques and a waitlist control (WL).
- To assess physiological and subjective responses to different relaxation methods.
Main Methods:
- Two controlled studies were conducted with clinical participants.
- Study 1: SR group (N=8) vs. TR group (N=8) vs. WL group (N=8).
- Physiological (EMG, respiration, blood pressure) and subjective (emotions, muscle tension) measures were used.
Main Results:
- SR group showed less sadness, self-reported muscle tension, and EMG activity than the TR group.
- In Study 2, all participants using SR reported decreased muscle tension.
- Muscle tension responders exhibited reduced trapezius EMG and respiration; cardiovascular responders showed lowered diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- Muscle stretching relaxation procedures are effective in reducing subjective and physiological arousal.
- SR demonstrates potential as a valuable tool in clinical relaxation training.
- Further research can explore the broader applications of stretching-based relaxation.