[Changes of body sensation through muscular relaxation: using the method of measuring tactile two-point limen]

The purpose of this study was to explore changes in body sensation through muscular relaxation by means of measurement of tactile two-point limen. This study comprised two experiments. The first experiment, in which twenty female college students participated, was carried out to examine the effect of relaxation on two-point limen, and the relationship between the acceptance of relaxation and two-point limen. The second experiment involved three physically handicapped children with cerebral palsy and hemiplegia. To determine whether they would show a decrease in two-point limen in the shoulders and forearms as a function of improvement of relaxation, they were given a week long intensive Motor Action Training, which was administered by means of the relaxation and movement training method established by Naruse. The results showed that the two-point limen decreased remarkably for both normal adult subjects and physically handicapped subjects as they relaxed muscular tension. Concerning the acceptance of relaxation, the high acceptance group showed a large decrease in the two-point limen, whereas the low acceptance group did not show any change.