Effects of structural integration on state-trait anxiety.

Studied the effects of the intervention technique of Structural Integration on state-trait anxiety. Matched pairs of Ss were assigned randomly to either the experimental (received rolfing) or control group (N = 48). State anxiety questionnaires were administered beofre rolfing and then again in 5 weeks after rolfing. Results indicated that rolfing caused a decrease in state anxiety when compared to the control group. Results were discussed in terms of the release of emotional tension stored up in the muscles due to Structural Integration.

The interrelationships between anxiety, motor performance and electromyography.

Much confusion in the research on anxiety and motor behavior is due to the failure to distinguish between anxiety as a transitory state and as a relatively stable state. In addition, researchers have been focusing on the end result of a motor act (performance) instead of investigating the quality of movement (patterns of energy organization) that make up the motor act. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered in this study to distinguish A-State and A-Trait subjects, while electromyography was used to investigate qualitative differences in motor behavior. High-anxious subjects performed significantly poorer than low-anxious subjects, and they used more energy over a longer period of time before, during, and after the performance than low-anxious subjects. The results were discussed in terms of efficiency of neuromuscular energy expenditure.