Abstract Title: Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation-tank as a preventive health-care intervention - a randomized controlled pilot trial. Abstract Source: BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 ;14:417. Epub 2014 Oct 25. PMID: 25344737 Abstract Author(s): Anette Kjellgren, Jessica Westman Article Affiliation: Anette Kjellgren Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sensory isolation in a flotation tank is a method known for inducing deep relaxation and subsequent positive health effects for patients suffering from e.g. stress or muscle tensions pains. Very few studies have investigated this method as a preventive health-care intervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects in healthy participants after receiving a series of flotation tank treatment. METHODS: Sixty-five participants (14 men and 51 women) who were all part of a cooperative-health project initiated by their individual companies, were randomized to either a wait-list control group or a flotation tank treatment group where they participated in a seven weeks flotation program with a total of twelve flotation sessions. Questionnaires measuring psychological and physiological variables such as stress and energy, depression and anxiety, optimism, pain, stress, sleep quality, mindfulness, and degree of altered states of consciousness were used. Data were analysed by two-way mixed MANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Stress, depression, anxiety, and worst pain were significantly decreased whereas optimism and sleep quality significantly increased for the flotation-REST group. No significant results for the control group were seen. There was also a significant correlation between mindfulness in daily life and degree of altered states of consciousness during the relaxation in the flotation tank. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that flotation-REST has beneficial effects on relatively healthy participants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12613000483752. Article Published Date : Dec 31, 2013

Abstract Title: Parkinson's disease tremor is diminished with relaxation guided imagery. Abstract Source: Mov Disord. 2009 Oct 30;24(14):2059-62. PMID: 19768725 Abstract Author(s): Ilana Schlesinger, Orna Benyakov, Ilana Erikh, Suheir Suraiya, Yitzhak Schiller Abstract: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may have pronounced tremor that exacerbates during stress. To determine whether PD tremor improves with relaxation guided imagery (RGI) and relaxing music. Twenty patients with PD with moderate to severe tremor participated in sessions where relaxation techniques were implemented. Tremor was objectively monitored using an accelerometer. RGI dramatically decreased tremor in all 20 patients (baseline 270.38 +/- 85.82 vs. RGI 35.57 +/- 43.90 movements per minute P < 0.0001). In 15 patients, RGI completely abolished tremor for 1-13 min. Average tremor activity remained significantly below baseline both 15 min and 30 min after RGI was discontinued (P < 0.001). Patients reported improvement lasting 2-14 hours (mean 6.8 +/- 3.8). Relaxing music significantly reduced tremor but to a lesser degree than RGI (220.04 +/- 106.53 movements per minute P = 0.01). Self-relaxation had no significant effect on tremor. RGI can supplement conventional medical treatments for tremor in patients with PD on best medical treatment. (c) 2009 Movement Disorder Society. Article Published Date : Oct 30, 2009

Abstract Title: Effectiveness of applying progressive muscle relaxation technique on quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis. Abstract Source: J Clin Nurs. 2009 Aug;18(15):2171-9. PMID: 19583649 Abstract Author(s): Somayeh Ghafari, Fazlolah Ahmadi, Masoud Nabavi, Kazemnejad Anoshirvan, Robabe Memarian, Mohamad Rafatbakhsh Abstract: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To identify the effects of applying Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique on Quality of Life of patients with multiple Sclerosis. BACKGROUND: In view of the growing caring options in Multiple Sclerosis, improvement of quality of life has become increasingly relevant as a caring intervention. Complementary therapies are widely used by multiple sclerosis patients and Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique is a form of complementary therapies. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. METHOD: Multiple Sclerosis patients (n = 66) were selected with no probability sampling then assigned to experimental and control groups (33 patients in each group). Means of data collection included: Individual Information Questionnaire, SF-8 Health Survey, Self-reported checklist. PMRT performed for 63 sessions by experimental group during two months but no intervention was done for control group. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software. RESULTS: Student t-test showed that there was no significant difference between two groups in mean scores of health-related quality of life before the study but this test showed a significant difference between two groups, one and two months after intervention (p < 0.05). anova test with repeated measurements showed that there is a significant difference in mean score of whole and dimensions of health-related quality of life between two groups in three times (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although this study provides modest support for the effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique on quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients, further research is required to determine better methods to promote quality of life of patients suffer multiple sclerosis and other chronic disease. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique is practically feasible and is associated with increase of life quality of multiple sclerosis patients; so that health professionals need to update their knowledge about complementary therapies. Article Published Date : Aug 01, 2009

Abstract Title: Functional relaxation and guided imagery as complementary therapy in asthma: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Abstract Source: Psychother Psychosom. 2009;78(4):233-9. Epub 2009 Apr 28. PMID: 19401624 Abstract Author(s): C Lahmann, M Nickel, T Schuster, N Sauer, J Ronel, M Noll-Hussong, K Tritt, D Nowak, F Rohricht, T Loew Abstract: BACKGROUND: Asthma is a frequently disabling and almost invariably distressing disease that has a high overall prevalence. Although relaxation techniques and hypnotherapeutic interventions have proven their effectiveness in numerous trials, relaxation therapies are still not recommended in treatment guidelines due to a lack of methodological quality in many of the trials. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the efficacy of the brief relaxation technique of functional relaxation (FR) and guided imagery (GI) in adult asthmatics in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: 64 patients with extrinsic bronchial asthma were treated over a 4-week period and assessed at baseline, after treatment and after 4 months, for follow-up. 16 patients completed FR, 14 GI, 15 both FR and GI (FR/GI) and 13 received a placebo relaxation technique as the control intervention (CI). The forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV(1)) as well as the specific airway resistance (sR(aw)) were employed as primary outcome measures. RESULTS: Participation in FR, GI and FR/GI led to increases in FEV(1) (% predicted) of 7.6 +/- 13.2, 3.3 +/- 9.8, and 8.3 +/- 21.0, respectively, as compared to -1.8 +/- 11.1 in the CI group at the end of the therapy. After follow-up, the increases in FEV(1) were 6.9 +/- 10.3 in the FR group, 4.4 +/- 7.3 in the GI and 4.5 +/- 8.1 in the FR/GI, compared to -2.8 +/- 9.2 in the CI. Improvements in sR(aw) (% predicted) were in keeping with the changes in FEV(1) in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms a positive effect of FR on respiratory parameters and suggests a clinically relevant long-term benefit from FR as a nonpharmacological and complementary therapy treatment option. 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel. Article Published Date : Jan 01, 2009

Abstract Title: Effect of two yoga-based relaxation techniques on memory scores and state anxiety. Abstract Source: Biopsychosoc Med. 2009;3:8. Epub 2009 Aug 13. PMID: 19674483 Abstract Author(s): Pailoor Subramanya, Shirley Telles Abstract: ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: A yoga practice involving cycles of yoga postures and supine rest (called cyclic meditation) was previously shown to improve performance in attention tasks more than relaxation in the corpse posture (shavasana). This was ascribed to reduced anxiety, though this was not assessed. METHODS: In fifty-seven male volunteers (group average age +/- S.D., 26.6 +/- 4.5 years) the immediate effect of two yoga relaxation techniques was studied on memory and state anxiety. All participants were assessed before and after (i) Cyclic meditation (CM) practiced for 22:30 minutes on one day and (ii) an equal duration of Supine rest (SR) or the corpse posture (shavasana), on another day. Sections of the Wechsler memory scale (WMS) were used to assess; (i) attention and concentration (digit span forward and backward), and (ii) associate learning. State anxiety was assessed using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the scores of all sections of the WMS studied after both CM and SR, but, the magnitude of change was more after CM compared to after SR. The state anxiety scores decreased after both CM and SR, with a greater magnitude of decrease after CM. There was no correlation between percentage change in memory scores and state anxiety for either session. CONCLUSION: A cyclical combination of yoga postures and supine rest in CM improved memory scores immediately after the practice and decreased state anxiety more than rest in a classical yoga relaxation posture (shavasana). Article Published Date : Jan 01, 2009

Abstract Title: Relaxation and guided imagery in Hispanic persons diagnosed with fibromyalgia: a pilot study. Abstract Source: Fam Community Health. 2008 Jul-Sep;31(3):204-12. PMID: 18552601 Abstract Author(s): Victoria Menzies, Sunny Kim Article Affiliation: School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Abstract: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder affecting 2% of the population in the United States. Another 16 million Hispanics suffer from generically identified rheumatic diseases that likely include FM. Because there are few reported studies of Hispanics with FM, a pilot study using a repeated-measures pretest-posttest design investigated the effects of a 10-week mind-body intervention (visual imagery with relaxation) on symptom management. The change in means from baseline to week 10 demonstrated improvement in self-efficacy for managing pain and other symptoms and functional status. Visual imagery with relaxation is a mind-body intervention that may be used for symptom management in this population. Article Published Date : Jul 01, 2008

Abstract Title: Does relaxation education in anxious primigravid Iranian women influence adverse pregnancy outcomes?: a randomized controlled trial. Abstract Source: J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2006 Apr-Jun;20(2):138-46. PMID: 16714913 Abstract Author(s): Farideh Bastani, Alireza Hidarnia, Kristen S Montgomery, Maria E Aguilar-Vafaei, Anoshirvan Kazemnejad Abstract: Maternal anxiety and stress are found to be predictors of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including low birth weight and prematurity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether relaxation education in anxious pregnant Iranian women in their first pregnancy affects selected pregnancy outcomes, including birth weight, preterm birth, and surgical delivery rate. SUBJECTS: A total of 110 obstetrically and medically low-risk primigravid women in Iran with a high anxiety level demonstrated by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. METHOD: In this randomized controlled trial, the experimental group received routine prenatal care along with 7-week applied relaxation training sessions, while the control group received only routine prenatal care. Anxiety and perceived stress were measured by pre-educational and post-educational intervention. Data related to pregnancy outcomes include birth weight, gestational age at birth, and type of delivery. RESULTS: Significant reductions in low birth weight, cesarean section, and/or instrumental extraction were found in the experimental group compared with the control group. No significant differences were found in the rate of preterm birth. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest beneficial effects of nurse-led relaxation education sessions during the prenatal period. This intervention could serve as a resource for improving pregnancy outcomes in women with high anxiety. Article Published Date : Apr 01, 2006

Abstract Title: The impact of abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation on salivary cortisol and salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA). Abstract Source: Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2005 Dec;30(4):375-87. PMID: 16385425 Abstract Author(s): Laura A Pawlow, Gary E Jones Abstract: This study examined the acute effects of relaxation training on salivary cortisol and salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA). Members of age- and gender-matched undergraduate student pairs were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. Forty-one experimental subjects were led through Abbreviated Progressive Relaxation Training (APRT) during a 1-h laboratory session; 14 control subjects merely sat quietly in the laboratory for an equal amount of time. All subjects provided pre- and post-intervention saliva samples and self-report data on state anxiety, perceived stress, and relaxation levels. Heart rate was also monitored immediately before and after APRT or quiet sitting. Results indicated that a brief relaxation exercise led to experimental subjects having significantly lower levels of post-intervention salivary cortisol (p = .036) and significantly higher levels of post-intervention sIgA concentration (p<.001) and secretion rate (p<.001) than control subjects. The data suggest that relaxation training may play a role in immunoenhancement. Article Published Date : Dec 01, 2005

Abstract Title: The impact of abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation on salivary cortisol. Abstract Source: Biol Psychol. 2002;60(1):1-16. PMID: 12100842 Abstract Author(s): Laura A Pawlow, Gary E Jones Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine whether acute relaxation training, conducted on two separate occasions, would be associated with reliable reductions in subjective and physiological indices of stress. Forty-six experimental subjects were led through Abbreviated Progressive Relaxation Training (APRT) exercises during two laboratory sessions spaced exactly 1 week apart. Fifteen control subjects experienced two laboratory sessions where they sat quietly for an equal amount of time. Results indicated that a brief relaxation exercise led to experimental subjects having significantly lower levels of post-intervention heart rate, state anxiety, perceived stress, and salivary cortisol than control subjects, as well as increased levels of self-report levels of relaxation. The results of this study may have implications for the use of relaxation training in enhancing immune function. Article Published Date : Jan 01, 2002