Efficacy of Benson's Relaxation Technique on Stress and Pain Among Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Stress and pain are high among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Benson's Relaxation technique affected a wide range of physical and psychological signs and symptoms among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Benson's Relaxation Technique in reducing stress and pain among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted. A systematic literature search was carried out from 2000 to 2023. Searched databases included EBSCO-Host "Academic Search, Cochrane, CINAHL, Health Business, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, SPORTDiscus", PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines were conducted. RCTs were critically appraised using the Cochrane's Risk of Bias Tool. Four RCTs met the inclusion criteria and included in this review since they were applicable to practice. Results: Four randomized controlled trials were identified supporting the use of Benson's relaxation technique as a nursing treatment in managing stress and pain among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, as it achieved a significant decrease in stress and pain scores. The overall quality of the randomized controlled trials was judged to be low to relatively moderate. Conclusions: Most of the randomized controlled trials lacked details on intervention adherence. It is recommended to conduct additional longitudinal randomized controlled trials in different countries with bigger sample sizes, to provide more evidence for generalizing outcomes.

Effect of meditation and relaxation therapy on preoperative anxiety and stress in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients scheduled for oral and maxillofacial surgery: An experimental study.

Context: The diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma [OSCC] and its treatment phase is emotionally demanding for the patient and challenging for the surgeon. The induction of stress and anxiety is unavoidable in these patients. It becomes very important for the patient to have psychological as well as physical stability during this treatment phase. Various studies have reported the beneficial effect of meditation along with relaxation therapy on healthy individuals but the beneficial effect of meditation and relaxation therapy [MRT] to reduce stress and anxiety preoperatively in OSCC patients has not been reported in scientific literature. Aim: The aim of this study was to study the effect of MRT on preoperative anxiety and stress in OSCC patients undergoing for oral and maxillofacial surgery. Settings and Design: An experimental, parallel study design was carried out with randomization of patients into experimental[25] and control group[25] with allocation ratio 1:1 in 50 patients diagnosed with OSCC [stage II or III] scheduled for oral and maxillofacial surgery with general anesthesia. Materials and Methods: The biopsy which was the prerequisite for the diagnosis was taken. Twenty-one days before surgery in experimental group, patients were oriented about meditation and relaxation exercises. The reorientation of MRT was done from the day of admission twice a day till the day of surgery. Physiological parameters for stress and anxiety like heart rate [HR], blood pressure [BP], pulse rate [PR], and respiratory rate [RR] were evaluated on 1st day of MRT at 9 am and on the day of surgery. The serum cortisol which was quantitative parameter for stress was evaluated 1st day of MRT at 9 am fasting and on the day of surgery. The qualitative analysis for anxiety was done preoperatively using visual analog scale on the 1st day before MRT and compared with the values on the day of surgery after MRT at a specific time. Statistical Analysis: Paired t-test analysis was used intragroup whereas unpaired t-test was used intergroup between experimental and control groups with significance at P = 0.05 and highly significant at P = 0.0001. Results: The serum cortisol was significantly less in the experimental group over control group with t = 7.04 and P = 0.0001. The systolic and diastolic BP, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and anxiety in the experimental group reported significantly less rate compared to the control group with t = 5.66, t = 22.2, t = 11.93, t = 27.71, and P = 0.0001. Conclusion: In our study, MRT in the form of Sukhasana, Anulom Vilom, Omkar chanting, and Shavasana for 30 min twice daily has shown positive effect to reduce stress and anxiety. The serum cortisol as a quantitative parameter has been effectively evaluated in this benchmark study.

Investigation of the effect of Jacobson's relaxation technique on the fatigue of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Caring for hemodialysis patients could be a heavy burden on family caregivers, causing them to become fatigued and decrease their quality of life. This study aimed to investigate whether Jacobson's relaxation can help alleviate the fatigue of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2021. Sixty-six family caregivers of hemodialysis patients were recruited by convenience sampling from a referral hospital in Tehran, Iran, and assigned randomly by coin toss to two groups of experimental (n = 32) and control (n = 34). Caregivers in the experimental group performed Jacobson's relaxation three times a week, each time for 30-45 min, for 30 days. The score and severity of fatigue before, 2 weeks after, and 1 month after the intervention were measured with the Fatigue Severity Scale. Data analysis was performed in the statistics software SPSS using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and analytic statistics (Independent Samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-Square test, Fisher's exact test, and RM-ANOVA test). The significance level was less than 0.05. RESULTS: The fatigue scores of the experimental and control groups were not significantly different before the intervention (4.42 ± 0.42 vs. 4.38 ± 0.42, P = 0.696). However, the experimental group had significantly lower fatigue scores than the control group 2 weeks after the intervention (4.11 ± 0.63 vs. 4.39 ± 0.42, P = 0.036) and 1 month after the intervention (3.5 ± 0.71 vs. 4.4 ± 0.44, P = 0.001). The results also showed a significant drop in the fatigue score of the experimental group after the intervention (P < 0.0001), but no such change in the control group (P = 0.662). CONCLUSION: Jacobson's relaxation technique was effective in alleviating the fatigue of family caregivers of hemodialysis patients. Nurses are therefore recommended to promote the technique as a safe and easy method of fatigue management for family caregivers.

Mind-Body Therapies in the Management of Otolaryngologic Disease: A State-of-the-Art Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: To review and assess the peer-reviewed literature on the utility of mind-body therapy (MBT) as an adjunct treatment in the management of otolaryngologic disease. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane. REVIEW METHODS: Randomized control trials (RCTs) of MBTs in the management of otolaryngologic disease from 2002 to 2022 were identified and included according to predefined criteria. Interventions requiring expensive equipment were excluded because the goal of MBT is to be cost-conscious. All studies were subjected to a two-stage blinded screening, extraction, and appraisal process. The outcomes of the intervention and control groups were compared. CONCLUSION: RCTs of MBTs, including breathing exercises (4), aromatherapy (2), biofeedback (2), meditation, (2), and yoga (2), have been studied in several otolaryngologic conditions, including septoplasty/rhinoplasty (3), head and neck cancer (2), facial palsy (2), and tinnitus (2). Most studies were of moderate risk of bias on appraisal, and each MBT studied was found to significantly reduce subjective and objective distress associated with the otolaryngologic condition in question. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Despite a paucity of strong evidence supporting the universal use of MBTs, our review suggests that MBTs are cost-effective and easily deployable complementary tools in the management of otolaryngologic disease. Future large, methodologically rigorous RCTs are needed to address the limitations of the included studies, such as improper blinding and inappropriate statistical analysis. As MBTs are studied further, a case for their current use can be made because of their low cost and minimal risk to patients.

The effect of Benson relaxation technique on cancer patients: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Although many studies have investigated the effect of this method on cancer patients, no review of the available literature has been done. So, a literature review is conducted to evaluate all published literature on the Benson relaxation technique in cancer patients. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted. A systematic search of online electronic databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus Web of Science, PsycINFO, and EMBASE was performed using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as "Benson Relaxation Technique," "Cancer Patients," "Malignancy," and "Neoplasia" from the beginning to April 27, 2023. A total of 810 publications were assessed for relevance by title and abstract. The remaining 31 articles were examined using inclusion criteria for all Persian and English-language publications that evaluate the effectiveness of the Benson relaxation technique on cancer patients. We did not have gray literature in our review. The methodological quality of the included studies was appraised using specific checklists. RESULTS: Finally, nine studies were included in this systematic review. Studies on breast cancer patients showed improvement in fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain, shortness of breath, insomnia, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, treatment side effects, breast symptoms, arm symptoms, worry about hair loss, and scores of hope. Two studies were conducted among cervical cancer patients that showed a decrease in anxiety scores and an improvement in the quality of sleep. Another study on gastric cancer patients showed decreased Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching scores. CONCLUSION: Overall, this systematic review showed that the Benson relaxation method could improve sleep quality, appetite, anxiety, and quality of life. Therefore, using the Benson relaxation technique is suggested to improve health-related outcomes in cancer patients.

Intervention effect of electroacupuncture therapy on drug reducing and discontinuation of insomnia patients with long-term excessive use of zolpidem.

OBJECTIVE: To explore therapeutic interventions after drug withdrawal reduction for insomnia patients who used zolpidem excessively for a long time. METHODS: A total of 86 patients with simple insomnia were randomly rolled into treatment (Tre) group (electroacupuncture therapy under low-dose zolpidem+relaxation treatment intervention, n=40) and control (Ctrl) group (low-dose zolpidem+relaxation treatment intervention, n=40), all of which received treatment and intervention for four weeks. RESULTS: As a result, after the dosage of zolpidem was gradually reduced, the deep sleep time of patients in the two groups was reduced in the first stage. However, with the prolongation of treatment time, the reduction trend of the two groups was gradually alleviated, but no great difference was found between groups (P>0.05). In the second stage of treatment, the deep sleep time of patients in the two groups gradually recovered and increased, and that in Tre group was greater than that in Ctrl group, and the upward trend was significant but differed slightly between groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the insomnia severity index (ISI) scores of the two groups gradually decreased, and that in Tre group was drastically inferior to those of Ctrl group on days 14 and 28 after treatment (both Ps<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, electroacupuncture therapy can effectively alleviate the effect of zolpidem on sleep quality in patients with insomnia after drug discontinuation and promote the recovery of deep sleep time in patients, thereby alleviating the side effects and drug dependence of patients.

Psychological Approaches for Migraine Management.

Migraine headaches are among the most prevalent and disabling pain conditions worldwide. Best-practice migraine management is multidisciplinary and includes the psychological approaches to address cognitive, behavioral, and affective factors that worsen pain, distress, and disability. The psychological interventions with the strongest research support are relaxation strategies, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and biofeedback, though the quality of clinical trials for all psychological interventions needs continued improvement. The efficacy of psychological interventions may be improved by validating technology-based delivery systems, developing interventions for trauma and life stress, and precision medicine approaches matching treatments to patients based on specific clinical characteristics.

Investigating the effectiveness of a smart mental health intervention (inMind) for stress reduction during pharmacological treatment for mild to moderate major depressive disorders: Study protocol for a randomized control trial.

Background: Although psychological interventions for stress relief, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), have been developed, they have not been widely used in treating depression. The use of mobile devices can increase the possibility of actual use by integrating interventions and reducing the difficulty and cost burden of treatment application. This study aims to determine whether "inMind," an integrated mobile application for stress reduction, developed for the general population, decreases stress for patients with mild to moderate major depressive disorder during the pharmacological treatment period. Methods: This study is a single-blind, multicenter, randomized, controlled crossover trial. The App, developed in Republic of Korea, provides integrated interventions for stress reduction for the general population through three modules based on mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavior therapy, and relaxation sounds that are known to be effective in stress reduction ("meditation," "cognitive approach," and "relaxation sounds," respectively). Participants (n = 215) recruited via medical practitioner referral will be randomized to an App first group (fAPP) or a wait list crossover group (dAPP). The study will be conducted over 8 weeks; the fAPP group will use the App for the first 4 weeks and the dAPP group for the next 4 weeks. During all study periods, participants will receive their usual pharmacological treatment. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 is the primary outcome measure. The analysis will employ repeated measurements using a mixed-model approach. Discussion: The App can potentially be an important addition to depression treatment because of its applicability and the comprehensive nature of the interventions that covers diverse stress-relieving models. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05312203, identifier 2021GR0585.

Autogenic Training in Mental Disorders: What Can We Expect?

Autogenic training (AT) is a well-established self-induced relaxation technique based on autosuggestion. From the past two decades, an increasing number of AT studies strongly suggests the practical usefulness of psychophysiological relaxation in the area of medicine. Despite this interest, to date, limited critical clinical reflection on the application and effects of AT in mental disorders exists. The present paper reviews psychophysiological, psychopathological, and clinical aspects of AT in persons with mental disorders with emphasis on implications for future research and practice. Based on a formal literature search, 29 reported studies (7 meta-analyses/systematic reviews) were identified that examined the effects and impact of AT on mental disorders. The main psychophysiological effects of AT include autonomic cardiorespiratory changes paralleled by central nervous system activity modifications and psychological outputs. Studies demonstrate consistent efficacy of AT in reducing anxiety and medium range positive effects for mild-to-moderate depression. The impact on bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders, and acute stress disorder remains unexplored. As an add-on intervention psychotherapy technique with beneficial outcome on psychophysiological functioning, AT represents a promising avenue towards expanding research findings of brain-body links beyond the current limits of the prevention and clinical management of number of mental disorders.

Acceptability and Tolerability of Extended Reality Relaxation Training with and without Wearable Neurofeedback in Pediatric Migraine.

Objective. To determine the acceptability of using extended reality (XR) relaxation training as a preventive treatment for pediatric migraine. Methods. Youths aged 10-17 years old with migraine were recruited from a specialty headache clinic and completed baseline measures evaluating their vestibular symptoms and attitudes about technology. The patients were then instructed in three XR-based relaxation training conditions (fully immersive virtual reality with and without neurofeedback, and augmented reality with neurofeedback), in counterbalanced order, and completed acceptability and side effect questionnaires after each. The patients also took XR equipment home for one week to use for relaxation practice and again completed the measures about their experience. The acceptability and side effect data were compared against predetermined acceptable thresholds and were evaluated for their association with the participant characteristics. Results. The aggregate acceptability questionnaire scores exceeded our minimum threshold of 3.5/5, with the two fully immersive virtual reality conditions preferred over augmented reality for relaxation training (z = -3.02, p = 0.003, and z = -2.31, p = 0.02). The endorsed side effects were rated by all but one participant as mild, with vertigo being the most common. The acceptability ratings were not reliably associated with age, sex, typical hours per day of technology use, or technology attitudes, but were inversely related to the side effect scores. Conclusions. The preliminary data on acceptability and tolerability of immersive XR technology for relaxation training among youths with migraine supports further intervention development work.

Effectiveness of Guided Breathing and Social Support for the Reduction of Pre-Exam Anxiety in University Students: A Factorial Study.

Anxiety is a state of mind that university students often manifest in exam situations, which can negatively impact their grades. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different relaxation techniques, including guided breathing and social support, on test anxiety among nursing students a few minutes before taking the final knowledge assessment test. For this purpose, a factorial study with a post-intervention measurement was carried out with three groups of nursing students. One group used the full yogic breathing relaxation technique (abdominal, thoracic, and clavicular), another used a social support technique, and the last group did not receive any intervention. Of 119 participants, 98.2% showed a moderate-high level of anxiety. Regarding the anxiety scale score, it was found that participants with moderate anxiety levels had higher scores on the knowledge test (Rho = -0.222; p = 0.015). The present study found no differences in anxiety levels between the study groups. Combining these relaxation techniques with others shown to be effective could reinforce their positive effect. Starting to work on this anxiety from the beginning of nursing courses appears to be a good strategy, striving to improve students' confidence in their abilities.

The Effectiveness of Benson's Relaxation Technique on Pain and Perceived Stress Among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Double-Blind, Cluster-Randomized, Active Control Clinical Trial.

Benson's relaxation affects many symptoms among hemodialysis patients. A cluster-randomized active control clinical trial with three repeated measures; pre, 1-week, and 1-month post-intervention sought to evaluate the effectiveness of Benson's Relaxation on pain and perceived stress (P&PS) among hemodialysis patients. Two governmental hospitals were randomly assigned to intervention and control. Thirty-six participants were randomly selected; 18 were intervention, and 18 were controlled. The intervention group performed Benson's Relaxation twice a day for 10 minutes for 8 weeks after a training session. The control group received an educational session about Progressive Relaxation. Findings revealed a statistically significant reduction in the PSS-10 and PRI scores between pre-intervention and 1 month after-intervention (p < .001) and at 1 week after intervention and 1 month after-intervention (p < .001). A non-statistically significant reduction between pre-intervention and 1 week after-intervention (p > .05). Benson's Relaxation significantly relieved P&PS among hemodialysis patients but not after only 1 week of practicing.

Relaxation training effects on the muscular and technical level of athletes / Efeitos do treinamento de relaxamento a nível muscular e técnico dos atletas / Efectos del entrenamiento de relajación en el nivel muscular y técnico de los deportistas

ABSTRACT Introduction The current teaching of athletes focuses mainly on gaining their skills, often neglecting the beneficial impacts of relaxation on the overall physical quality of its students. Therefore, clarifying the relationship between muscle relaxation training and athletic performance is important. Objective Explore the effect of relaxation training on running athletes' technical and muscular levels. Methods A comparative experiment was conducted on 40 male and female runners, randomly divided into two groups. Before training, the athletes in the experimental group received relaxation training through the breath regulation method, muscle relaxation method, and independent training method, with 60 minutes in each session, for 6 months. Results Based on the assumption that there was no significant difference in the initial physical indices, the athletes in the experimental group performed better in 100m, 200m, and 300m than those in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion Adequate relaxation training positively affects athletes' muscular endurance and technical level. Therefore, an adequate increase in relaxation training is shown to be conducive in improving the overall physical quality and competitive level of athletes. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução O ensino atual dos atletas foca-se principalmente no ganho de suas habilidades, negligenciando muitas vezes os impactos benéficos do relaxamento na qualidade física geral de seus alunos. Portanto, é de grande importância esclarecer a relação entre o treinamento de relaxamento muscular e o desempenho atlético. Objetivo Explorar o efeito do treinamento de relaxamento sobre o nível técnico e muscular dos atletas de corrida. Métodos Uma experiência comparativa foi realizada em 40 corredores masculinos e femininos, divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos. Antes do treinamento, os atletas do grupo experimental receberam treinamento de relaxamento através do método de regulação da respiração, método de relaxamento muscular e método de treinamento independente, com um total de 60 minutos de duração em cada sessão, por 6 meses. Resultados Partindo da premissa de que não houve diferença significativa nos índices físicos iniciais, os atletas do grupo experimental tiveram melhor desempenho em 100m, 200m e 300m do que os do grupo controle, e a diferença entre os dois grupos foi significativa (P < 0,05). Conclusão O treinamento de relaxamento adequado tem um efeito positivo sobre a resistência muscular e o nível técnico dos atletas. Portanto, o aumento adequado do treinamento de relaxamento mostra-se propício na melhoria da qualidade física geral e no nível competitivo dos atletas. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción La enseñanza actual de los deportistas se centra principalmente en la ganancia de sus habilidades, descuidando muchas veces los impactos beneficiosos de la relajación en la calidad física general de sus alumnos. Por lo tanto, es de gran importancia aclarar la relación entre el entrenamiento de relajación muscular y el rendimiento deportivo. Objetivo Explorar el efecto del entrenamiento de relajación en el nivel técnico y muscular de los atletas que corren. Métodos Se realizó un experimento comparativo con 40 corredores masculinos y femeninos, divididos aleatoriamente en dos grupos. Antes del entrenamiento, los atletas del grupo experimental recibieron un entrenamiento de relajación mediante el método de regulación de la respiración, el método de relajación muscular y el método de entrenamiento independiente, con una duración total de 60 minutos en cada sesión, durante 6 meses. Resultados Partiendo de la base de que no había diferencias significativas en los índices físicos iniciales, los atletas del grupo experimental obtuvieron mejores resultados en 100m, 200m y 300m que los del grupo de control, y la diferencia entre los dos grupos fue significativa (P < 0,05). Conclusión Un entrenamiento de relajación adecuado tiene un efecto positivo en la resistencia muscular y el nivel técnico de los atletas. Por lo tanto, el aumento adecuado del entrenamiento de relajación se muestra propicio para mejorar la calidad física general y el nivel competitivo de los deportistas. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Effect of guided imagery relaxation on anxiety in cervical cancer: randomized clinical trial / Efecto de la relajación con imagen guiada en la ansiedad en el cáncer cervical: ensayo clínico aleatorizado / Efeito do relaxamento com imagem guiada na ansiedade no câncer cervical: ensaio clínico randomizado

ABSTRACT Objectives: to evaluate the effect of guided imagery relaxation through virtual reality on anxiety in women with cervical cancer undergoing radiochemotherapy. Methods: randomized, non-blinded, single-center clinical trial conducted at a cancer reference hospital. 52 women participated, with randomized allocation of 24 in the control group and 28 in the experimental group (12 sessions of guided imagery relaxation through virtual reality, applied three times a week). The outcome was evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and statistical analysis was performed using the Generalized Linear Mixed Model. Results: n the experimental group, women presented significant anxiety traits (p=0.010) before the intervention. Between the 4th and 12th week of follow-up, there was a reduction in anxiety levels, without statistical significance. Conclusions: guided imagery relaxation through virtual reality provided evidence of anxiety reduction in women with cervical cancer undergoing radiochemotherapy and may contribute to clinical practice. Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry: RBR-7ssvytb.

RESUMEN Objetivos: evaluar el efecto de la relajación con imagen guiada por realidad virtual en la ansiedad en mujeres con cáncer cervical sometidas a radioterapia. Métodos: ensayo clínico aleatorizado, no enmascarado, unicéntrico, realizado en un hospital de referencia en cáncer. Participaron 52 mujeres con asignación aleatoria, 24 en el grupo control y 28 en el experimental (12 sesiones de relajación por imagen guiada por realidad virtual, aplicadas 3 veces por semana). El resultado fue evaluado por el Inventario de Ansiedad Rasgo-Estado y el análisis estadístico fue realizado con el Generalized Linear Mixed Model. Resultados: en el grupo experimental, las mujeres presentaban rasgos de ansiedad significativos (p=0,010) antes de la intervención. Entre la 4ª y 12ª semana de seguimiento, hubo reducción en el estado de ansiedad, sin significancia estadística. Conclusiones: la técnica de relajación por imagen guiada por realidad virtual proporcionó evidencias de reducción de la ansiedad en mujeres con cáncer cervical en tratamiento con radioterapia y puede contribuir en la práctica clínica. Registro Brasileño de Ensayo Clínico: RBR-7ssvytb.

RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar o efeito do relaxamento com imagem guiada por realidade virtual na ansiedade em mulheres com câncer cervical submetidas à radioquimioterapia. Métodos: ensaio clínico randomizado, não mascarado, unicêntrico, realizado em um hospital de referência em câncer. Participaram 52 mulheres com alocação randomizada, 24 no grupo controle e 28 no experimental (12 sessões de relaxamento por imagem guiada por realidade virtual, aplicadas 3 vezes por semana). O desfecho foi avaliado pelo Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado e a análise estatística foi realizada com o Generalized Linear Mixed Model. Resultados: no grupo experimental, as mulheres apresentavam traços de ansiedade significativos (p=0,010) antes da intervenção. Entre a 4ª e 12ª semana de seguimento, houve redução no estado de ansiedade, sem significância estatística. Conclusões: a técnica de relaxamento por imagem guiada por realidade virtual forneceu evidências de redução da ansiedade em mulheres com câncer cervical em tratamento com radioquimioterapia e pode contribuir na prática clínica. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaio Clínico: RBR-7ssvytb.

Relaxation training to relieve sports fatigue in volleyball / Treinamento de relaxamento no alívio da fadiga esportiva no voleibol / Entrenamiento de relajación en el alivio de la fatiga deportiva en voleibol

ABSTRACT Introduction: Volleyball demands from athletes in continuous training a strong engagement and the use of sport endurance techniques, and their relaxation after training is indispensable. Objective: This paper investigates whether relaxation training after volleyball is beneficial in the competitive levels of volleyball players. Methods: 60 volleyball players aged 20-23 years were selected as participants in the experiment. They received relaxation training for 8 weeks, and heart rate changes were recorded before and after relaxation. Results: The heart rate of athletes in a resting state before training changed from 79.93 in the first week to 81.07 in the eighth week; after volleyball practice, the heart rate of athletes before relaxation varied from 136.13 to 140.73 from the first week to the eighth week; after the introduction of relaxation training, the heart rate of athletes was 84.71, and the minimum heart rate recorded was 80.74. It can be seen that relaxation training allows athletes to recover quickly to a normal state and achieve the goal of relaxation. Conclusion: Adding a relaxation training program to relieve fatigue after volleyball showed a useful for improving the performance of volleyball players. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: O voleibol exige dos atletas em formação contínua um forte engajamento e o uso de técnicas de resistência ao esporte, sendo indispensável o seu relaxamento após o treino. Objetivo: Este artigo investiga se o treinamento de relaxamento após o voleibol é benéfico nos níveis competitivos dos jogadores de voleibol. Métodos: 60 jogadores de voleibol de 20 a 23 anos de idade foram selecionados como participantes do experimento. Eles receberam treinamento de relaxamento por 8 semanas, registrando-se as alterações do ritmo cardíaco antes e depois do relaxamento. Resultados: O ritmo cardíaco dos atletas em estado de repouso antes do treinamento mudou de 79,93 na primeira semana para 81,07 na oitava semana; após a prática do voleibol, o ritmo cardíaco dos atletas antes do relaxamento variou de 136,13 a 140,73 da primeira semana para a oitava semana; após a introdução do treinamento de relaxamento, a frequência cardíaca dos atletas foi de 84,71, sendo a frequência cardíaca mínima registrada de 80,74. Pode-se observar que o treinamento de relaxamento permite aos atletas se recuperarem rapidamente para um estado normal e alcançarem o objetivo de relaxamento. Conclusão: Adicionar o programa de treinamento de relaxamento para aliviar a fadiga após o vôlei evidenciou-se útil para melhorar o desempenho dos jogadores de vôlei. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: El voleibol exige de los deportistas en entrenamiento continuo un fuerte compromiso y la utilización de técnicas de resistencia deportiva, siendo imprescindible su relajación después del entrenamiento. Objetivo: Este trabajo investiga si el entrenamiento de relajación después del voleibol es beneficioso en los niveles competitivos de los jugadores de voleibol. Métodos: 60 jugadoras de voleibol de entre 20 y 23 años fueron seleccionadas como participantes en el experimento. Recibieron entrenamiento de relajación durante 8 semanas y se registraron los cambios en la frecuencia cardiaca antes y después de la relajación. Resultados: La frecuencia cardíaca de los deportistas en estado de reposo antes del entrenamiento varió de 79,93 en la primera semana a 81,07 en la octava semana; tras la práctica del voleibol, la frecuencia cardíaca de los deportistas antes de la relajación varió de 136,13 a 140,73 desde la primera semana hasta la octava semana; tras la introducción del entrenamiento de relajación, la frecuencia cardíaca de los deportistas fue de 84,71, y la frecuencia cardíaca mínima registrada fue de 80,74. Se puede observar que el entrenamiento de relajación permite a los atletas recuperarse rápidamente a un estado normal y alcanzar el objetivo de la relajación. Conclusión: Añadir el programa de entrenamiento de relajación para aliviar la fatiga después del voleibol se mostró útil para mejorar el rendimiento de los jugadores de voleibol. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Imagem guiada para qualidade de vida de mulheres com câncer cervical: estudo quase experimental / Guided image for quality of life of women with cervical cancer: quasi-experimental study / Imagen guiada para la calidad de vida de mujeres con cáncer de cuello uterino: estudio cuasi-experimental

Introdução: As terapias mente-corpo, como o relaxamento com imagem guiada, que estão entre as principais práticas integrativas utilizadas por pacientes oncológicos, são essenciais para manter equilíbrio saudável entre a excitação simpática e parassimpática no cérebro. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do relaxamento por imagem guiada, com o uso da realidade virtual, na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de mulheres com câncer de colo uterino em tratamento concomitante com quimiorradioterapia. Materiais e Método: Estudo quase experimental, realizado em um hospital de referência em oncologia no Sul do Brasil, de outubro de 2019 a janeiro de 2021. Participaram 52 mulheres, divididas em dois grupos, experimental (intervenção relaxamento por imagem guiada com realidade virtual), e controle (rotina padrão). Utilizou-se para avaliação dos escores da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde o instrumento Functional Assessmentof Cancer Therapy Cervix Cancer,aplicado antes, 14 dias após e, ao término do tratamento, em aproximadamente 35 dias. As análises foram realizadas pelo modelo linear generalizado misto, com a matriz de covariância autorregressiva de ordem 1, e a significância foi confirmada pelo teste de Sidak. Resultados: Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa para o grupo experimental nos domínios físico (p=0,02), funcional (p=0,00), sintomas específicos do câncer de colo de útero e efeitos do tratamento (p=0,03) e qualidade de vida global (p=0,02). Conclusão: O relaxamento por Imagem Guiada contribuiu na melhora na Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde das pacientes com câncer de colo do útero, durante o tratamento com quimiorradiação.

Introduction: Mind-body therapies, such as guided imagery relaxation, which are among the main integrative practices used by cancer patients, are essential for maintaining a healthy balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic arousal in the brain. Objective: To evaluate the effect of guided image relaxation, with the use of virtual reality, on the health-related quality of life of women with cervical cancer undergoing concomitant treatment with chemoradiotherapy. Materials and Method: A quasi-experimental study, carried out in an oncology referral hospital in southern Brazil, from October 2019 to January 2021. 52 women participated, divided into two groups, experimental (relaxation intervention guided by imagery with virtual reality), and control (default routine). The Functional instrument was used to assess health-related quality of life scores. Assessment of Cancer therapy cervix cancer, applied before, 14 days after and at the end of treatment, in approximately 35 days. The analyzes were performed using the mixed generalized linear model, with an autoregressive covariance matrix of order 1, and the significance was confirmed by the Sidak test. Results: There was a statistically significant difference for the experimental group in the physical (p =0.02), functional (p =0.00), specific symptoms of cervical cancer and treatment effects (p =0.03) and overall quality of life (p =0.02). Conclusion: Guided Image Relaxation contributed to an improvement in the Health-Related Quality of Life of patients with cervical cancer during treatment with chemoradiation.

Introducción: Las terapias de mente y cuerpo, como la relajación de imágenes guiadas, que se encuentran entre las principales prácticas integradoras utilizadas por los pacientes con cáncer, son esenciales para mantener un equilibrio saludable entre la activación simpática y parasimpática en el cerebro. Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de la relajación de imagen guiada, con el uso de realidad virtual, sobre la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud de mujeres con cáncer de cuello uterino en tratamiento concomitante con quimiorradioterapia. Materiales y Método: Estudio cuasi-experimental, realizado en un hospital de referencia de oncología en el sur de Brasil, de octubre de 2019 a enero de 2021. Participaron 52 mujeres, divididas en dos grupos, experimental (intervención de relajación guiada por imaginería con realidad virtual), y control (rutina por defecto). El instrumento funcional se utilizó para evaluar las puntuaciones de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Evaluación de Cáncer terapia cuello uterino cáncer, aplicado antes, 14 días después y al final del tratamiento, en aproximadamente 35 días. Los análisis se realizaron utilizando el modelo lineal generalizado mixto, con una matriz de covarianza autorregresiva de orden 1, y la significación fue confirmada por la prueba de Sidak. Resultados: hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa para el grupo experimental en la calidad de vida física (p = 0,02), funcional (p = 0,00), síntomas específicos del cáncer de cuello uterino y efectos del tratamiento (p = 0,03) y en general (p = 0,02).). Conclusión: La Relajación por Imagen Guiada contribuyó a mejorar la Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud de las pacientes con cáncer de cuello uterino durante el tratamiento con quimiorradioterapia.

Effect of Benson's relaxation technique on caregiver burden in caregivers of hemodialysis patients. A Randomized Controlled Trial / Efecto de la técnica de relajación de Benson en la carga del cuidador de pacientes en hemodiálisis. Un entudio controlado aleatorizado / Efeito da técnica de relaxamento de Benson na sobrecarga do cuidador em pacientes em hemodiálise. Um estudo controlado randomizado

Methods. This is a randomized controlled trial study on 52 caregivers of hemodialysis patients referred an universitary hospital at Jahrom. The caregivers were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, Benson's relaxation was performed twice a day for 15 minutes each time, and continued for one month. Data collection tools included demographic information questionnaire and standard Zarit Burden Interview questionnaire which was completed by all participants before the intervention and one month after it. Results. After the intervention, the mean caregiver burden of hemodialysis patients in the intervention group decreased significantly compared to the control group (p<0.001). The results of paired t-test showed that in the intervention group, the mean scores of caregiver burden after the intervention (14.46± 10.91) was significantly lower than before the intervention (38.33±16.94) (p=0.001). Conclusion. Benson's relaxation method can reduce caregiver burden in caregivers of hemodialysis patients.

Objetivo. Investigar el efecto de la técnica de relajación de Benson sobre la carga de los cuidadores de pacientes en hemodiálisis. Métodos. Estudio de intervención realizado con la participación de 52 cuidadores de pacientes en hemodiálisis remitidos a un hospital universitario de Jahrom (Iran). Los cuidadores fueron divididos aleatoriamente en los grupos de intervención y de control. En el grupo de intervención, se realizó la técnica de relajación de Benson dos veces al día durante 15 minutos cada vez, y se continuó durante un mes. Las herramientas de recogida de datos incluían un cuestionario de información demográfica y la entrevista de percepción de carga del cuidador "Zarit Burden Interview" que fue completado por todas participantes antes de la intervención y un mes después de terminada la misma. Resultados. Después de la intervención, la carga media de los cuidadores de pacientes en hemodiálisis en el grupo de intervención disminuyó significativamente en comparación con el grupo de control (p<0.001). Los resultados de la prueba t pareada mostraron que en el grupo de intervención, las puntuaciones medias de la carga del cuidador después de la intervención (14.46±10.91) fueron significativamente menores que antes de la intervención (38.33±16.94) (p=0.001). Conclusión. El método de relajación de Benson puede reducir la carga de los cuidadores de pacientes en hemodiálisis.

Objetivo. Investigar o efeito do relaxamento de Benson na sobrecarga do cuidador em cuidadores de pacientes em hemodiálise na cidade de Jahrom. Métodos. Este é um estudo controlado randomizado envolvendo 52 cuidadores de pacientes em hemodiálise encaminhados a um hospital afiliado à Jahrom University of Medical Sciences. Os cuidadores foram divididos aleatoriamente em grupos intervenção (n=24) e controle (n=24). No grupo intervenção, os cuidadores realizaram o relaxamento de Benson duas vezes ao dia por 15 minutos cada, e foi continuado por um mês. A coleta de informações incluiu um questionário de informações demográficas e o questionário padrão Zarit que foi preenchido por todos os participantes antes da intervenção e um mês após o seu preenchimento. Resultado S. A maioria dos cuidadores nos grupos intervenção (79.2%) e controle (64.3%) eram mulheres. Após a intervenção, a sobrecarga média dos cuidadores de pacientes em hemodiálise no grupo intervenção diminuiu significativamente em relação ao grupo controle (p<0.001). Os resultados do teste t pareado mostraram que, apenas no grupo intervenção, os escores médios de sobrecarga do cuidador após a intervenção (14.46 ±10.1) foram significativamente menores do que antes da intervenção (38.33) ±16.94) com p <0.001. Conclusão. O método de relaxamento de Benson demonstrou ser eficaz na redução da sobrecarga dos cuidadores de pacientes em hemodiálise.

Comparing the effect of a lactation-specific relaxation and visualisation intervention versus standard care on lactation and mental health outcomes in mothers of very premature infants (the EXPRESS trial): study protocol for a multi-centre, unmasked, randomised, parallel-group trial.

BACKGROUND: Premature birth is the leading cause of neonatal death and can cause major morbidity. Maximising the amount of maternal breastmilk given to very premature infants is important to improve outcomes, but this can be challenging for parents. Parents of infants receiving neonatal care also have high rates of anxiety and distress. There is growing evidence for the impact of maternal relaxation interventions on lactation, as well as mental health. The trial will assess whether a brief self-directed relaxation and visualisation intervention, recommended for use several times a day during expression of milk, improves lactation and mental health outcomes for mothers of very premature infants. METHODS: Multi-centre, randomised, controlled, unmasked, parallel-group trial with planned 132 participants who have experienced premature birth between 23 weeks and 31 weeks and 6 days of gestation and plan to express milk for at least 14 days. The primary outcome is the highest 24-h expressed milk yield recorded on any of day 4, day 14 or day 21 after birth. Secondary outcomes include exclusive breastmilk feeding at 36 weeks post-menstrual age and at 4 months after the estimated date of delivery, Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Index at day 21 and Post-traumatic stress Check List (for DSM 5) at day 21. DISCUSSION: Breastmilk feeding for premature infants is an important research priority, but there are few randomised controlled trials assessing interventions to help parents reach lactation goals in this challenging context. This trial will assess whether a no cost, easily scalable relaxation tool has a role in this setting. Given the lack of harm and potential for immediate dissemination, even a small benefit could have an important global impact. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN16356650 . Date assigned: 19/04/2021.

Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for the Prophylaxis of Migraine in Adults: A Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Behavioral approaches are central to the preventive treatment of migraine but empirical evidence regarding efficacy and effectiveness is still sparse. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed migraine-specific, integrative cognitive-behavioral therapy program (miCBT) combining several approaches (trigger and stress management, coping with fear of attacks, relaxation training) by comparing it with a single behavioral approach (relaxation training, RLX) as an active control group and a waiting-list control group (WLC). Methods: In a three-armed open-label randomized controlled trial, 121 adults with migraine were assigned to either miCBT, RLX or WLC. The outpatient group therapy (miCBT or RLX) consisted of seven sessions each 90 min. Participants who completed the WLC were subsequently randomized to one of the two treatment groups. Primary outcomes were headache days, headache-related disability, emotional distress, and self-efficacy. The baseline was compared to post-treatment, and followed by assessments 4- and 12-months post-treatment to compare miCBT and RLX. Results: Mixed-model analyses (intention-to-treat sample, 106 participants) showed significantly stronger pre-post improvements in self-efficacy (assessed by the Headache Management Self-Efficacy Scale, HMSE-G-SF) in both treatment groups compared to the WLC (mean difference at post; miCBT: 4.67 [0.55-8.78], p = 0.027; RLX: 4.42 [0.38 to 8.46], p = 0.032), whereas no other significant between-group differences were observed. The follow-up analyses revealed significant within-group improvements from baseline to 12-month follow-up in all four primary outcomes for both treatments. However, between-group effects (miCBT vs. RLX) were not significant at follow-up. Conclusion: The miCBT has no better treatment effects compared to RLX in migraine-prophylaxis. Both treatments effectively increase patients' self-efficacy. Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Register (www.drks.de; DRKS-ID: DRKS00011111).

Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise on Anxiety Reduction Among Nursing Students During Their Initial Clinical Training: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

The study is to examine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation exercise on anxiety of nursing students during their initial clinical experience. A quasi-experimental, pre-post study was carried out in the Arab American University. A convenience sample consists of 90 first-year nursing students were chosen. A progressive muscle relaxation exercise for five days per week was conducted on one group of nursing students. Students' anxiety was measured by S-anxiety scale (STAI Form Y-1) at pre and post the intervention. The severity of anxiety reduction was greater post the exercise (t (89) = 30.783, P = .001).