Efficacy of ‘Functional Relaxation’ in Comparison to Terbutaline and a ‘Placebo Relaxation’ Method in Patients with Acute Asthma

Abstract

Background: ‘Functional relaxation’ (FR) according to Marianne Fuchs is a body-oriented psychotherapy that involves teaching the patient a type of relaxation techniques aimed at maintaining equilibrium of the nervous system. Methods: In order to determine whether the practice of elementary parts of this therapy has an immediate beneficial effect on pulmonary function, a randomized, single-blind, prospective crossover study was done with 21 asthmatics with acute bronchoconstriction. On 3 consecutive days they were given either (1) a 5-min verbal standard instruction in elementary exercises of FR (eFR), which they were to practice during subsequent bodyplethysmographic measurement or (2) inhalative terbutaline (IT), a β₂-sympathomimetic drug, or (3) an unspecific ‘placebo relaxation’ technique (PRT), so that all subjects tried all 3 treatments in random order. Spirometric variables were assessed. Results: There was a significant decrease in specific airway resistance with eFR, which, though not as pronounced as with IT, was significantly greater than with PRT. This study shows that clinically relevant effects can be achieved for patients with asthma through mind-body interaction, which can be triggered by reproducible procedures. Conclusion: Further development of the FR approach could lead to a nonpharmacological and effective supplementary treatment for asthma, which is in high demand by many patients.

Functional Relaxation and Guided Imagery as Complementary Therapy in Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

“…This study confirms earlier findings showing a positive effect from FR on lung parameters in patients with bronchial asthma [20, 21]. …”

“…Promising results have also been shown in several studies using the technique of functional relaxation (FR), a brief relaxation technique based on the principles of psychodynamic body psychotherapy. In two trials [20, 21] FR led to significant improvements in pulmonary function in asthma patients, with effect sizes comparable to those induced by inhaled β 2 -sympathomimetics.…”

“…In addition to the methods applied in previous studies that addressed the efficacy of FR [20, 21], the present trial focused on the long-term effects of FR by including a 4-month follow-up assessment.…”

Pregnant Women with Bronchial Asthma Benefit from Progressive Muscle Relaxation: A Randomized, Prospective, Controlled Trial

“…This supports the results of earlier trials which indicated that subjects with bronchial asthma could benefit from relaxation techniques [18,19,20]. …”

“…Now, it is also known that anxiety and emotional stress exacerbate or predispose to acute and chronic asthma [17]. Subjects with bronchial asthma, including pregnant women, could also probably benefit from relaxation techniques [18,19,20]. One of the most simple and easily learned techniques for relaxation is progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), currently a widely-used procedure that was originally developed by Jacobson in 1939 and which, in the literature, resulted in the greatest effects on behavioral and self-report measures of relaxation [11], cf.…”