Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
08:17
Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Relaxation training after stroke: potential to reduce anxiety
Ian Kneebone1, Natalie Walker-Samuel, Jennifer Swanston
1University of Western Sydney, School of Social Sciences and Psychology , Penrith , Australia .
Disability and Rehabilitation
|July 12, 2013
Summary
Group relaxation training effectively reduced self-reported tension in post-stroke patients, demonstrating its potential for managing anxiety during inpatient rehabilitation. This intervention shows promise for improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurorehabilitation
- Psychological interventions
- Clinical psychology
Background:
- Anxiety is a common and impactful condition following stroke, potentially hindering rehabilitation progress.
- Relaxation techniques are established treatments for anxiety in general populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of implementing a relaxation group for post-stroke anxiety in an inpatient setting.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of relaxation training in decreasing self-reported tension among stroke patients.
Main Methods:
- A group autogenic relaxation training protocol was developed collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team and patient input.
- Fifty-five stroke patients participated in the training over 24 months on a rehabilitation ward.
- Self-reported tension was measured using Tension Rating Circles (TRCs) before and after the training sessions.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant reduction in self-reported tension was observed post-training, regardless of the number of sessions attended (p < 0.001).
- Both single-session and multiple-session attendance yielded significant tension reduction (p < 0.01).
- The TRCs were found to be acceptable to participants.
Conclusions:
- Group relaxation training is a feasible and promising intervention for managing anxiety in post-stroke patients during inpatient rehabilitation.
- The study provides evidence for the effectiveness of relaxation techniques in reducing tension, a key symptom of anxiety, in this population.
- Further research is recommended to validate these findings with standard anxiety measures and explore broader clinical applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
01:25Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III
Regular exercise and meditation serve as essential tools in managing stress and promoting physical and mental well-being.
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the risk...
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the risk...
01:18Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
01:26Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview
Anxiolytic drugs are vital in managing anxiety disorders by effectively alleviating symptoms such as excessive fear, tachycardia, and tremors. There are several classes of anxiolytic medications, each with unique mechanisms of action and potential side effects.
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic circuitry.
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic circuitry.