Effects of various forms of relaxation training on physiological and self-report measures of relaxation.

In a comparison among relaxation procedures, 32 college students were assigned to four group of equal size. Electromyographic response training was given with biofeedback (EMG training) on the forehead (frontal area) alone, on the frontal area, neck (sternomastoid), and forearm areas in succession, or on these three sites in conjunction with recorded relaxation instructions used at home. Relative to a control group, which received no training, the three biofeedback-trained groups maintained lower EMG levels on the frontal and sternomastoid sites, and the group provided with the relaxation instructions plus EMG training showed lower skin conductance levels. These patterns were generally maintained during the presentation of a stimulus (stressor) that ostensibly signaled an impending electric shock. Other measures, including peripheral temperatures and self-reported anxiety, also showed effects consistent with the stressor presentations but did not differentiate the groups. The results are discussed in terms of common clinical relaxation procedures, an alternative procedure for training several sites simultaneously, and implications for models of EMG training and arousal.

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Biofeedback and relaxation training in the treatment of psychophysiological disorders: Or are the machines really necessary?

Silver

Blanchard

1978

J Behav Med

113

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The literature on the use of biofeedback and various forms of relaxation training in the treatment of psychophysiological disorders was reviewed; special attention was devoted to studies in which biofeedback and some form of relaxation training were compared. Based on this review, we conclude that there is no consistent advantage for one form of treatment over the other with any psychophysiological disorder for which a comparison has been made, e.g., essential hypertension, migraine headaches, premature ventricular contractions, tension headaches, temporomandibular joint pain, asthma, primary dysmenorrhea, and functional diarrhea. For other disorders in which no comparisons have been made (e.g., Raynaud's disease, sinus tachycardia, peptic uclers, and fecal incontinence) biofeedback seems to be a very promising treatment modality.

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Effects of various forms of relaxation training on physiological and self-report measures of relaxation.

Cited by 45 publications

References 13 publications

Biofeedback in the Treatment of Tension Headache

Biofeedback in the Treatment of Tension Headache

Single- and successive-site EMG training in responding to anticipated pain

Biofeedback and relaxation training in the treatment of psychophysiological disorders: Or are the machines really necessary?

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