KINESIOLOGY

Relaxation
Dr Mahboobullah

DPT, MSPT* (MSK) IPM&R KMU

Relaxation
 The State in which Muscles are relatively free from
tension at rest is called relaxation
 Muscle Tone: muscle tone (residual muscle

tension or tonus)
 Is the continuous and passive

partial contraction of the muscles or the

muscle's resistance to passive stretch during
resting state
 Postural Tone: The contraction which persist in the

muscles concerned with the maintenance of posture

(chiefly the anti gravity muscle)is called postural tone.

 It is maintained by reflex mechanism

 It varies in different posture highest in upright position

and lowest in recumbent position

Voluntary movement

 The movement under conscious control is called

Voluntary movement
 Specific muscles contracts followed by relaxation by
antagonist.
 Mental Attitude:

 Fear, Anger and excitement give rise to a general

increase in muscular contraction useful for rapid action.
 Normally this tension ,developed to serve a useful
purpose as followed by relaxation when the need no
longer exist.
 Degree of relaxation:
 The degree to which muscular tension is reduced
 Often achieved by gentle passive movements.
 When patient fall to sleep during treatment is an
example of relaxation by passive movements.
 Pathological tension in Muscles:
A marked persistent increase in muscular tension
or tone is a feature of many pathological
condition which affect the nervous system.
 Lesion of the higher motor centre may cause
abnormal state of muscular tension like Hyper
tonicity to spasticity and rigidity
Technique
 General relaxation :Basic condition for general
relaxation are
 Support

 Comfort

 Restful atmosphere
 Support in lying position
 Various form and modification of lying are

used to achieve full support of the body

depending on the condition and preference
of patient
 The weight of the body is effectively
counterbalanced by uniform upward pressure
of reciprocal surface
Lying supine
 A firm surface is essential and if resilient incase of
good spring mattress to mould the body counters and
given even pressure and comfort
 Soft Pillow beneath the head preventing head from
rotating to either side and support neck posteriorly
 small pillow under the knee
 Feet are held in mid position
 Arms slightly abducted at shoulder and flexed at
elbow rest on pillow
 Half Lying:
 Similar to previous position but breathing is easier in
this as there is less weight on the back
 And abdominal pressure on the undersurface of
diaphragm is reduced
 Arm chair is used for substitute of plinth or bed
 Thighs are supported and feet rest on floor or footstool
Prone lying
 Head is turned to one side may rest on small
pillow
 A firm pillow under the hips and lower

abdomen to preventing hallowing of the back

 For women it should extend higher to avoid

pressure on the breast

 Lower leg elevated,knee slightly bent toes

free
 Medial rotation at hip to falls apart heel
 Side lying:
 Uppermost arm and leg are supported on a surface
 Head pillow support head and neck in alignment
 Head pillow must not be to high
Comfort

Comfort (or comfortability, or
being comfortable) is a sense of
physical or psychological ease
often characterized as a lack
of hardship
 Freedom to breath deeply
 Warmth
 Removal of constrictive clothes such as corsets and belts, and
button to relieve pressure
 Warmth by hot water bottle, Infrared lamp, or electric blanket
 Brisk walk in the open air
 Attention of emptying bladder before treatment
Restful atmosphere
 Physical and mental relaxation are interdependent
 Treatment room should be quiet as possible
 The continuous low pitched sound are soothing
 Bright lights and strong color should avoid
 Low well diffused lights gives soft and warm glow
 Manners, dressing and consoling and communication of
physiotherapist to the patient
Additional method of promoting
relaxation
 Consciousness of breathing:
 Concentration on his own breathing which must be
deep with a slight pause at the end of expiration
 Progressive relaxation:
 Yoga system
 Savasana and still pose
 Contrast method:
 Demonstrating maximal contraction followed by
degree of relaxation.
 In cases if the patient can not recognize the
sensation of relaxation
 Continue this contraction unless the patient is
tired
Physiological relaxation
 Method was devised by Laura Mitchell in 1957
 It is a method of reciprocal relaxation
 The position of tension of the whole body is ,raised
shoulders, bent up elbows, and hands, head and trunk
flexed
 The patient changes the position of every joint in turn
is reciprocal elexation
 Passive movements:
 Rhythmical passive movements of the limbs head and
trunk
 Stretching

 Rhythmical small Pendular movements

Local relaxation
 For relief of spasm and adaptive shortening:
 Spasm due pain is protective
 Hold –relax and pendular movements in pain free range
are effective
 Integration of reciprocal action to establish the increase
ROM in adaptive shortening