The use of a new relaxation method in a case of tension headache

A tension headache sufferer was treated with a newly developed procedure called behavioral relaxation training that assumes relaxed postures. The client was a 21 yr old female who had a 15-yr chronicity of headaches. During treatment, headache activity was reduced to a near zero level. After the first week of behavioral relaxation training, a second week of that training was administered combined with EMG biofeedback, followed by one more week of behavioral relaxation training alone. The combination phase was employed to determine if the addition of biofeedback would produce a more relaxed state. There were no significant differences in terms of EMG levels of muscular activity. Results are discussed regarding alternative explanations of the results and future research proposals.