RELAXATION

Outlines
 Definition of Relaxation
 Classification of relaxation
 Factors affecting relaxation
 Relaxation training
 How to gain relaxation
 How to test relaxation
 Indicators of relaxation
Relaxation
 It is a state in which muscle tension and mental
stress are reduced as much as possible through
conscious effort, or a process that decreases the
wear and tear of life's challenges on your mind
and body
 It is a conscious effort to relieve tension in
muscles.
Interventions that promote general or local
relaxation can complement stretching
program
Relaxation can be classified
into:
1. Mental relaxation( reduce mental stress)
2. Physical relaxation ( reduce physical stress)

Also it can be classified into:

1. General relaxation
2. Local relaxation
Factors Affecting Relaxation
1- Muscle Tone
 Muscle tone refers to the amount of
tension or resistance to movement in
a muscle even during rest.
Muscle Tone. Cont.,
 Muscle tone is maintained through the activity of
the muscle spindles circuit.
 2- Postural Tone
 It is the muscle
contraction against
gravity to maintain
posture (it is concerned
mainly about the anti-
gravity muscles).
 Postural tone is
maintained by a reflex
mechanism called
myotatic or stretch reflex.
Postural Tone. Cont.,
 recumbent positions provide full
support for all segments of the body
general relaxation.
3- Voluntary Movement

 After any muscle contraction and completion

of the movement, the muscles come to rest
and relax.
 There is a recognized biological principle that
activity of living cells tends to be followed by
inhibition of that activity
(contraction=relaxation).
Voluntary Movement. Cont.,
 Contraction in any one group of muscles is
accompanied by a reciprocal relaxation of the
antagonistic group to allow movement to
take place smoothly. These facts are of
importance during consideration of methods
designed to obtain relaxation of a particular
group of muscles
(Reciprocal inhibition).
 4- Mental Attitude
 Mental attitudes such as fear, anger and exciting
give rise of the muscle tension and preparing the
muscle for rapid or forceful action.
 Normally, this tension is reduced with relaxation
and when the need for it no longer exist, but in
some cases it may become habitual and lead to
change of normal posture.
 5- Pathological Tension in
Muscle
The tension of higher motor centers (upper motor
neuron lesions) leads to increase tension of relaxed
muscles which varies from hyper tonicity to
spasticity or rigidity.

 A temporary reduction in this tension in the affected

area can be achieved in some cases by suitable
means which promote relaxation, and this allows re-
education of any functional activity which remains to
take place.
Relaxation training
Relaxation training
Relaxation training, using methods of general
relaxation (total body relaxation), has been used
by a variety of practitioners to help patient to
 Relieve pain
 Relieve muscle tension, anxiety or stress
 Relieve associated physical and mental
dysfunctions, including tension headaches, high
blood pressure, and respiratory distress
 Common elements of relaxation
training
1. Relaxation involves a reduction in muscle tension in
the entire body or the region that is painful or
restricted by conscious effort and thought.

2. Comfortable positions and support (Prone lying,

Supine lying, Half lying, Side lying)
3. Training occurs in a quiet environment with low
lighting and soothing music.

4. The patient perform deep breathing exercises.

5. When giving instructions the therapist uses a soft

tone voice.
Lying supine
 Half Lying

 This is similar to the previous

position but breathing is easier as
there is less weight on the back and
abdominal pressure on the under
surface of the diaphragm is reduced.
 An armchair makes quite a good
substitute for a plinth or bed, the
things are fully supported and the
feet rest on the floor, or a footstool,
or a T- shaped footrest.
Side lying
 Efficiancy depends upon shoulder and pelvis
girdle stability
 Uppermost arms and legs are rested on
supporting surface but some of wt. fall on
trunk and impedes respiration
Prone Lying
COMFORT

 Incredient to comfort are

 Freedom to breathe deeply
 Warmth
 Abdominal quiescence
 Mild degree of fatigue
 Removal of restrictive closthings and coresets
 Fresh air in room
 Warmth in winters specially with dim light
 Balanced diet with light rhythmical activity 22
Restful atmosphere
 For Physical and mental rest
 Treatment room should be quiet
 Avoid production of high pitched intermitent
noise
 Bright red and yellow colours are stimulating
 Light colors are soothing
 Manner and bearing of therapist define
success of treatment
 Simple explanation of routine and
instructions should be given in language or
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 Reguler and frequent practice of letting go or
relaxation is achieved
 Conciousness of Breathing
 Under comfortable and quiet condition
patients mind remain active
 In this case it concentrate on rhythm of
breathing
 Expiration is phase with feeling of letting
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Continued…………… Next Lect

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Examples of approaches to
relaxation training
1. Autogenic training. It involves conscious relaxation
through autosuggestion and a progression of exercises

2. Progressive relaxation. It uses systemic, distal to

proximal progression of voluntary contraction and
relaxation of muscles.

3. Awareness through the movement. It combines

sensory awareness, movements of the limbs and trunk,
deep breathing, conscious relaxation procedures, and
self-massage to alter muscle imbalances and abnormal
postural alignment to remediate muscle tension and
pain.
Sequence for progressive
relaxation techniques
1. Place the patient in quiet area and in a
comfortable position, and be sure that
restrictive clothing is loosened.
2. Have the patient breath in a deep, relaxed
manner.
3. Ask the patient to contract the distal
musculature in the hands or feet voluntarily
for several (5 to 7) seconds and then
consciously relax those muscles for 20 to 30
seconds.
Sequence for progressive
relaxation techniques. Cont.,
4. Suggest that the patient try to feel a sense of
heaviness in the hands or feet and a sense of
warmth in the muscle just relaxed.
5. Progress to a more proximal area of the body and
have the patient actively contract and actively relax
the proximal musculature.
6. Suggest to the patient that he or she should feel a
sense of relaxation and warmth throughout the
entire limb and eventually throughout the whole
body.
Local Relaxation
1. Preparatory to massage and passive
movement. It can complement starching
program
2. For relief of spasm.
3. To prevent adaptive shortening.
 Local relaxation is gained
through
1. Heat: superficial or deep heat is applied to
increase circulation to the soft tissue.
(increase soft tissue extensibility prior
stretching exercises)
2. Massage: superficial and deep massage can
be used to increase local circulation and
decrease muscle spasm.
3. Biofeedback: it reduce the amount of
tension in a muscle (visual and /or auditory
biofeedback).
4. Joint traction or oscillation: slight
manual distraction of joint surface can be
used to decrease muscle spasm around
the joint.
5. Contrast method
6. Reciprocal method
7. Suggestion method
5. Contrast method

 Physiology
Strong contraction of the muscle
is followed by an equal
relaxation of the same muscle or
Excitation= inhibition
5. Contrast method. Cont.,
Technique
The technique consists of
 sequence of contractions of the muscles
performed, usually, in a distal to proximal
sequence in each limb or pair of limbs in turn
followed by letting go or relaxation for an equal or
longer period of time
 Contractions for each limb part are usually added
to one another so that tension in the limb is total
and relaxation should be controlled in reverse
sequence
 6. Reciprocal method

technique
1. The sequence used is more
usually proximal to distal
 7. Suggestion method
technique
1. In this technique the
therapist provides
comfortable relaxing
conditions for patient:
2. A warm well-ventilated room
3. A comfortable support
4. Light covering
5. Then by using quiet hypotonic mellow tones
 8. Pendular swinging

The technique
This is used for relaxation of the limbs. The arm/s
or leg/s may be swing back and forward until
they feel numb. . The sensory receptors have
accommodated to the constant movement.
This type of swinging may be aided by adding
from a 1/2 to 1 kg weight to the limb
 8. Pendular swinging. Cont.,
Value
This type of swinging is of particular value to
reduce the rigidity of Parkinsonism, but is also
used for shorter periods of time to mobilize
joints by patient activity. It is the most suitable
for the shoulder, hips, knee.
9. Active inhibition techniques: are reflex
relaxation procedures that therapist use to
inhibit muscle prior to stretching or
lengthening.
Active inhibition techniques include:
1. Contract- relax
2. Contract - relax –contract
3. Agonist contraction
 1-Contract – relax (hold-
relax):

 Start with the tight muscle in comfortably

lengthened position
 Ask the patient to isometrically contract the
tight muscle against resistance for 5 to10
seconds, then relax.
 Repeat the procedure several times.
2- Contract – relax- contract
(hold- relax- Contract):

 Follow the same procedure as done for

contract- relax, then ask the patient to
perform concentric contraction of the muscle
opposite to the tight muscle.
3-Agonist contraction
 Apply mild resistance to the contracting muscle,
but allow joint movement to occur.
 The tight muscle will relax as a result of
reciprocal inhibition.
Indicators of relaxation
1. Decrease in muscle tension
2. Lowered heart and respiratory rates and blood
pressure
3. Increase skin temperature in the extremities
associated with vasodilatation
4. Constricted pupils
5. Eyes closed and flat facial expression
6. Jaw and hands relaxed with palms open
7. Decreased distractibility.
How to test relaxation:

 By sight
 By passive movement
 By shacking the limb
 By raising the limb and sudden fall down
THANKS…

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