ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: For almost a century, there has been constant speculation on the relationship between life stress, the individual’s response and the blood pressure changes. Various studies have shown that actual decline in blood pressure with non invasive behaviour therapy vary widely. We studied the effectiveness of progressive muscular relaxation technique in re-establishing normalcy in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in young hypertensive subjects in Baroda. Methods: 84 hypertensive individuals were randomly divided in group Ia and group Ib of which 24 subjects in group Ia and 26 subjects in group Ib completed the study. Group Ib subjects were instructed to practice relaxation technique as per pre-recorded cassette twice daily for three months. Age and sex matched 23 normotensive subjects served as controls (group II). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured in sitting and lying down position before and after 3 months of practice. Results show a significantly higher systolic (143.1 vs 121 mmHg) and diastolic (92.13 vs 76.35 mmHg) blood pressure in hypertensive group compared to control in basal condition. After 3 months of relaxation practice systolic (137.87 vs 142.93 mmHg) blood pressure was significantly lower in experimental group Ib while diastolic blood pressure shows no significant change with relaxation practice. Compared to control the blood pressure was still higher in experimental group Ib after relaxation practice. Conclusion: The progressive muscle relaxation technique by decreasing sympathetic tone probably reduces systolic blood pressure. Thus it is found to be a valuable adjunct to the treatment of essential hypertension in young hypertensive.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Evidences suggest that relaxation therapy may improve psychological outcomes in heart patients. We evaluated the effect of progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) training in decreasing anxiety and improving quality of life among anxious patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Method: This study was an open uncontrolled trial. The sample included 110 anxious patients referred to the cardiac rehabilitation clinic of Tehran Heart Center, Tehran, Iran, during six weeks after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Patients were allocated to receive both exercise training and lifestyle education plus relaxation therapy (relaxation group; n=55) or only exercise training beside lifestyle education (control group or the recipient of usual care group; n=55). Duration of the relaxation therapy was 6 wk and in the case of usual care was 8 wk. Both the groups were followed up one month after completion of intervention. Anxiety and quality of life in the two treatment groups were compared. Results: There were no signifi cant differences in overall QOL, state anxiety and trait anxiety scores between the two groups before intervention. Signifififi cant reductions in state anxiety (P<0.01) and trait anxiety (P<0.01) levels were observed in relaxation group after intervention compared to control group. Women had high state anxiety and a low quality of life than men in the two groups before intervention. After intervention, there was no difference between men and women in the relaxation group. Interpretation & conclusions: Our fi ndings show that progressive muscular relaxation training may be an effective therapy for improving psychological health and quality of life in anxious heart patients.