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Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2007. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 164 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--East Carolina University, 2009. / Presented to the faculty of the Department of Occupational Therapy. Advisor: Beth Velde. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed June 22, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

O papel das tÃcnicas de relaxamento fÃsico e mental no controle da pressÃo arterial permanece mal definido em funÃÃo de aspectos como efeito placebo, nÃmero pequeno de estudos com grandes populaÃÃes e dificuldades tÃcnicas e metodolÃgicas. Este estudo examinou o impacto de uma sessÃo de relaxamento fÃsico e mental sobre a pressÃo arterial de 64 pacientes portadores de hipertensÃo arterial grau I. Os pacientes foram divididos em 2 grupos. O primeiro grupo foi constituÃdo per 41 pacientes que alÃm do relaxamento usaram medicaÃÃo antihipertensiva (betabloqueadores ou diurÃticos). O segundo foi composto per 23 pacientes que sà realizaram o relaxamento. A pressÃo arterial dos pacientes foi aferida atravÃs de um sistema de monitorizaÃÃo ambulatorial da pressÃo arterial (MAPA) nas 24 horas subsequentes ao relaxamento. Os resultados mostraram que houve reduÃÃo da pressÃo arterial sistÃlica e diastÃlica nos dois grupos (PAS=27mmHg PAD=20mmHg no primeiro grupo e PAS=20mmHg e PAD=15mmHg no segundo) com valores mais acentuados no grupo que usou medicaÃÃo hipotensora. NÃs concluÃmos que as tÃcnicas de relaxamento reduziram os nÃveis da pressÃo arterial em valores que variaram em funÃÃo do fenÃmeno estresse de IigaÃÃo. Recomendamos novos estudos comparando intervenÃÃes comportamentais e farmacolÃgicas combinadas, alÃm de se procurar delinear a magnitude do efeito placebo e determinar a influencia das caracterÃsticas de personalidade dos pacientes nos resultados obtidos. / The role of the phisical and mental relaxation thecnics in blood pressure control remains ill-defined because of placebo effects, small study numbers and technical and methodological limitations. This study examined the impact of a phisical and mental relaxationâs session on the blood pressure of 64 subjects with hipertension type I. The patients were alocated in 2 groups. The first one with 41 subjects that used antihypertensive medication (betablockers or diuretics) and relaxation; the second group with 23 patients that used only relaxation technics. Blood pressure was evaluated using a 24-hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Results showed blood pressure reduction of the components sistolic and diastolic in the two groups. The results were improved in the first group. (SBP=27mmHg DBP=20mmHg and SBP=20mmHg DBP=15mmHg) We concluded that the relaxation technics reduced blood pressure with a large variation because the linkstress phenomenon. We recomend future research with combined behavioral and pharmacological interventions and further explorations trying to determine the capability of placebo effects and personality characteristics to alter the outcome.

The purpose of this research study was to compare the treatment effects of relaxation therapy and the tranquilizing agent Chlordiazepoxide (Librium). The subjects were 37 hospitalized alcoholics who had been identified as anxious. Elevations of scales two and seven of the MMPI was used as a criterion of anxiety. Thirteen subjects were given Librium, 12 were given a placebo, 12 were given nine sessions of relaxation therapy. Although the results did not indicate significant differences among the three groups, the relaxation group showed the least amount of anxiety at post-testing. It was concluded that relaxation therapy was equal to drug therapy in effectiveness and thus more desirable due to the lack of undesirable side effects. Suggestions for further research were given.

Submitted by ROSANGELA KAVANAMI (rokavan@famerp.br) on 2016-05-30T19:31:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 gislainebuzzinifernandes_dissert.pdf: 1361273 bytes, checksum: 0c4285af81cc827f41cf7b0e7e1ce121 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-30T19:31:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gislainebuzzinifernandes_dissert.pdf: 1361273 bytes, checksum: 0c4285af81cc827f41cf7b0e7e1ce121 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-27 / Introduction: Pain is an important complaint of leprosy patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of relaxation in the treatment of pain in leprosy and the impact of this approach on pain perception and heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: This quantitative, analytical study employed three instruments for data collection. Twenty leprosy patients were enrolled in the Núcleo de Gestão Assistencial 60 Clinic in São José do Rio Preto, SP. The modified Jacobson Progressive Muscle Relaxation technique was used together with coordinated breathing exercises to achieve the desired level of relaxation of different muscle groups. A Polar ® Advanced S810i device (transmitter belt with timer) was worn by one selected participant in each relaxation session .A questionnaire and visual analogue scale were used to quantify pain. Further more practical training meetings were held to apply the relaxation technique. The Kubios_HRV computer program was used to calculate variables, and the Stats Direct 2-6-3 program for descriptive and inferential analysis. Data are reported as means, standard deviation, median and quartiles. The paired two-tailed Student t-test and Wilcoxon test were used for statistical analysis. An alpha error of 5% (p-value ≤ 0.05) was considered acceptable. Results: Statistically significant improvement (p-value=0.0064) in the degree of perceived pain was reported within the first five relaxation sessions. Further tests showed significant improvements after five and ten sessions of relaxation as patients felt less pain proving the efficacy of the relaxation technique. The results of the effects on heart rate variability identified statistically significant improvements with relaxation exercises in respect to time domain variables (SDNN, RMSSD and pNN50), frequency domain (LF, HF and LF/HF) and non-linear domain (SD1, SD2 and SD1/SD2). This demonstrates that this procedure improves over all autonomic behavior since improved variability is associated with a better homeostatic condition. Conclusions: Therapeutic exercises can be considered an important resource to improve and prevent disabilities in individuals with pain due to leprosy. / Introdução: A dor que acomete o portador de hanseníase direcionou este estudo que teve como objetivos avaliar o efeito do relaxamento como terapia complementar e seu impacto na percepção da dor e na variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC). Metodologia: Estudo quantitativo, analítico com três instrumentos de coleta de dados. Foram estudados 20 portadores de hanseníase, no Ambulatório do Hospital de Base e no Núcleo de Gestão Assistencial 60 de São José do Rio Preto/SP. A metodologia utilizada foi o Relaxamento Muscular Progressivo de Jacobson modificado com a finalidade de atingir níveis desejados de relaxamento dos diferentes grupos musculares, junto a atividades respiratórias coordenadas. Foram realizadas no total 85 sessões. Em cada sessão de relaxamento era escolhido um dos participantes para a colocação do dispositivo Polar ® Advanced S810i (cinto transmissor e relógio). Foi usado um formulário de entrevista e a escala visual analógica para a quantificação da dor. Além disso, foram feitas reuniões de sensibilização e prática para aplicação do relaxamento. Foi utilizado o software Kubios_HRV para cálculo das variáveis, e o StatsDirect 2-6-3 para análise descritiva e inferencial. As medidas descritivas utilizadas foram média, desvio-padrão, mediana e quartis. Na análise inferencial, o teste t de Sudent pareado bicaudal foi empregado para variáveis contínuas com distribuição gaussiana ou teste de Wilcoxon quando não gaussiana. Quanto à representação gráfica foram empregados gráficos de Box-Plot. Admitiu-se erro alfa de 5% sendo considerados significantes valores de P≤0,05. Resultados: a comparação do grau de percepção da dor entre as primeiras sessões de relaxamento (da 1ª a 5ª) aplicadas aos pacientes em estudo mostrou uma melhora estatisticamente significante, com valor de P= 0,0064. Foram detectadas diferenças significantes indicando que os pacientes, após mais de cinco sessões de relaxamento e após a 10ª apresentavam redução dos níveis de percepção da dor, indicando eficácia da técnica de relaxamento. Os efeitos na variabilidade da frequência cardíaca mostraram que as variáveis no domínio do tempo (SDNN, RMSSD e pNN50), no domínio da frequência (LF, HF e LF/HF) e no domínio não-linear (SD1, SD2 e SD1/SD2), exibiram diferença estatisticamente significante na análise comparativa antes e depois da realização dos exercícios de relaxamento, indicando que o procedimento utilizado melhora o comportamento autonômico total uma vez que há evidência na literatura de que melhor variabilidade se associa com melhor condição homeostática. Conclusões: O exercício terapêutico pode ser considerado como recurso importante no que tange à promoção e prevenção de incapacidades em indivíduos portadores de hanseníase com dor. Após cinco sessões de relaxamento com a técnica de Jacobson obteve-se melhora significante. Houve mudança significante na variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC), nos domínios do tempo, da frequência, e não linear, mostrando maior estabilidade do organismo (homeostase) e, consequentemente, melhora clínica com redução do sintoma alvo.

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the current process research by investigating a psychotherapist's experience during psychotherapy. Massage therapy and relaxation therapy were used to manipulate psychotherapist's bodily focus, physiology, and affective state. Topics discussed include: the bodily focus of the therapist, neurobiological models of experience, mind-body boundary issues, and a present-time focus. Doctoral level Counseling and Clinical graduate students were used as participants.

Life events and one's ability to adapt to these events has significant effects on immune functioning. Immunosuppression has been related to a high magnitude of life stress and low adaptive ability. While studies have explored immune response in stressed individuals, no study has approached the area of prevention with low-immunity individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether subjects who self-report stressful lives have lower immunity, and whether "low" immunity subjects under "high" stress could enhance phagocytic activity through biofeedback-assisted relaxation.

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / Purpose: The trapezius muscle is thought to be the muscle most commonly associated with the presence of active myofascial trigger points (MFTP’s). Studies of the trapezius muscle clearly show that muscular activity significantly increases in response to psychological stress. Cervical spine manipulation has been proven to be highly effective in the treatment of active MFTP’s and muscular tension. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) therapy is frequently utilized as a relaxation technique in subjects complaining of increased levels of muscular tension, possibly due to an increased perception of psychological stress. Although cervical spine manipulation alone is effective in the treatment of active MFTP’s and muscular tension, chiropractors often search for adjunctive therapies to improve current treatment protocols. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the combination of cervical spine manipulation and PMR therapy is a more efficient, and possibly effective, treatment protocol for active MFTP’s of the trapezius muscle. Method: This study was a comparative study and consisted of two groups of fifteen participants each. All participants were between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years of age, with a male to female ratio of 1:1. Potential participants were examined and accepted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group A received chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy of the cervical spine. Group B was the combination group and therefore received chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy of the cervical spine together with the application of PMR therapy. Subjective measurements consisted of a Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) Questionnaire, Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) and the Vernon-Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index Questionnaire. Objective measurements consisted of pressure pain threshold algometry readings taken from active trigger points one (TP1) and/or trigger point two (TP2) on the right and/or left side of the upper trapezius muscle.