A meta-analysis of 14 quasi-experimental studies was conducted to compare the effect of size on various relaxation therapies applied to patients and health volunteer students. These studies were selected from theses, dissertations and papers that have been done between 1982 to 1993. Also They have a randomized or nonequivalent control group in a pre test-post test design. The studies were evaluated in different ways; 1) types of relaxation therapy, 2) total amount of time of relaxation therapy, and 3) types of outcome variables. For a group of homogenious studies, the weighted mean effect size and standard error were estimated. Some findings are summarized as follows : 1. Jacobson relaxation therapy had a larger effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressures than on state anxiety. 2. For the total time of relaxation therapy, (longer than 60 minutes) had a much larger effect in decreasing systolic and diastolic blood pressures than in the case of a time period shorter than 60 minutes. 3. Relaxation therapy applied to surgery patients also had a larger effect in decreasing state anxiety than when applied to other patients.
Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Relaxation Therapy* ; Relaxation* ; Volunteers

A meta-analysis of 14 quasi-experimental studies was conducted to compare the effect of size on various relaxation therapies applied to patients and health volunteer students. These studies were selected from theses, dissertations and papers that have been done between 1982 to 1993. Also They have a randomized or nonequivalent control group in a pre test-post test design. The studies were evaluated in different ways; 1) types of relaxation therapy, 2) total amount of time of relaxation therapy, and 3) types of outcome variables. For a group of homogenious studies, the weighted mean effect size and standard error were estimated. Some findings are summarized as follows : 1. Jacobson relaxation therapy had a larger effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressures than on state anxiety. 2. For the total time of relaxation therapy, (longer than 60 minutes) had a much larger effect in decreasing systolic and diastolic blood pressures than in the case of a time period shorter than 60 minutes. 3. Relaxation therapy applied to surgery patients also had a larger effect in decreasing state anxiety than when applied to other patients.
Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Relaxation Therapy* ; Relaxation* ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise therapy and relaxation therapy on the level of ACTH and cortisol in workers and to determine, from this information, the effectiveness of applied exercise therapy and relaxation therapy as a nursing intervention method for workers experiencing stress. METHOD: The subjects were divided into an exercise therapy group, a relaxation therapy group, and a control group. The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design (exercise therapy: n=12, relaxation therapy: n=12, control group, the group without exercise or relaxation therapy: n=12). The subjects in the exercise therapy group were given a particular intensity for each kp over 30 min, bicycle ergometer which uses the LX PE training system before and after four weeks of training. The subjects did 60-70% exercise intensity exercise therapy for eight weeks. The relaxation therapy subjects were trained using a modified Jacobson's relaxation technique for eight weeks. The exercise and relaxation therapy groups were trained at the following intensity for eight weeks (3 times/week, 30 min/day). Changes in the levels of ACTH and cortisol were identified. Two-way ANOVA and multiple range test (SNK: Student Newman Keul) were used to examine the effects of exercise therapy and relaxation therapy at four and eight weeks.. RESULT: 1. Changes in the level of ACTH in the relaxation therapy group were statistically significant at .05 level, and were better than that of the exercise therapy group after eight weeks. But there was no significant difference between the exercise therapy group and the control group. 2. Change in the level of cortisol in the relaxation therapy group were statistically significant at .05 level as compared to the exercise therapy group and the control group after four weeks, but not after eight weeks. Also, the relaxation therapy was statistically significant at .05 level after four weeks compared to before treatment, but there was a tendency toward increased cortisol after eight weeks. CONCLUSION: Relaxation therapy was found to be more effective in stress treatment than exercise therapy and as such is a desirable nursing intervention method for stress hormone reduction in workers.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Exercise Therapy* ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Nursing ; Relaxation Therapy* ; Relaxation* ; Research Design

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise therapy and relaxation therapy on catecholamine and heart rate in people in white color jobs and to determine this information the effectiveness of applied exercise therapy and relaxation therapy as a nursing intervention method for stress patients. The subjects were divided into an exercise therapy group, a relaxation therapy group, and control group and the research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-post test design(exercise therapy : n=12, relaxation therapy : n=12, control group, the group without any treatment in exercise on relaxation therapy : n=12). The subjects in the exercise therapy group were given a particular intensity for each kp during 30min, bicycle ergometer which is using an LX PE training system before & after 4weeks of training. The exercise therapy that was used was Astrard load method which tested absolute exercise load of heart rate before & after four weeks, and resting heart rate was tested for exercise and relaxation therapy before, after four weeks, and at eight weeks. The results of each kp & absolute exercise load were calculated with the target rate formula(maximal heart rate-rest heart rate) x exercise intensity(%) rest heart rate so the subjects could continue 60-70% exercise intensity for exercise therapy over eight weeks. The relaxation therapy subjects were trained using a modified Jacobson's relaxation technique for eight weeks. The exercise and relaxation therapy were trained at the following intensity for eight weeks(3 times/week, 30 min/day) to see changes in catecholamine & heart rates. After eight weeks, statistical analysis of exercise & relaxation therapy were carried out Two-way ANOVA and multiple range test(SNK : Student Newman Keul) were used. The results are as follows : 1. The change of epinephrine & norepinephrine in the exercise therapy, relaxation therapy, and control group was statistically significant at the .05 level after four weeks & eight weeks. Also, exercise therapy was statistically significant at .05 level over that of the control group after 4 weeks. 2. The change of heart rate in relaxation therapy was statistically significant at the .05 level, and was statistically significant at the .05 level over that of the exercise therapy and control group. In conclusion, it is obvious that exercise therapy and relaxation therapy should be one of the most effective stress treatment and desirable nursing interventions methods for job stress in people in white color jobs.
Epinephrine ; Exercise Therapy* ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Nursing ; Relaxation Therapy* ; Relaxation* ; Research Design

Adrenal fatigue is a symptom complex occurring when chronic stress overwhelms one's own adaptation reserve. Morning fatigue, decreased performance, irritability, depressed mood, poor concentration, general myalgia, insomnia, cravings for stimulants, hypoglycemia, postural dizziness are the main symptoms. Adrenal fatigue or exhaustion is not a new concept. Selye presented the concept as a general adaptation syndrome to stress nearly 70 years ago, but it is still a valuable one. It is not easy to measure adrenal function; nowadays salivary cortisol/dehydroepiandrosterone levels taken many times in a day has developed and used frequently. A lot of psychological methods and relaxation techniques including relaxation response, proper nutrition with supplements/herbs, deep sleep and rest, graded exercises and social supports make the patients recover from the state. Diagnostic methods or managements must be developed more to handle this syndrome easily because this syndrome has become much more prevalent than during the last century due to rapid changes and instability of modern societies.
Dizziness ; Exercise ; Fatigue ; General Adaptation Syndrome ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Relaxation ; Relaxation Therapy ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Adolescent ; Adult ; Affect ; Electromyography ; Emotions ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrotherapy ; Male ; Relaxation ; Relaxation Therapy ; Sex Factors

Many people in Korea suffer from a fear of dental treatments; however, only a few studies have focused on this population. This study assessed the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and its interventions in reducing dental anxiety, especially when administered by trained dental staff. Using case studies, the authors analyzed the content of each session and examined the process of reducing dental anxiety. First, the authors observed that the results of both dental fear scale and subjective unit of disturbance decreased significantly with changes in cognitive distortions related to dental anxiety and that rapid improvements were noted after two therapy sessions. Second, the study reported that practicing relaxation (deep-breathing) and muscle relaxation techniques; using hand signals to indicate anxiety or discomfort; establishing an empathic relationship with the therapist; making an anxiety list; and graded insensitive and exposure along with rehearsal, were effective in coping with dental anxiety and in changing negative thoughts towards the dentist. Third, a simple cognitive behavioral intervention can be effective in reducing dental anxiety. In summary, a short-term, five-session psychological intervention with CBT produced a sustained decrease in the symptoms of dental anxiety, allowing the patients to receive the required procedures. The authors discussed the study limitations and the implication of their results on future research.
Anxiety ; Cognitive Therapy* ; Dental Anxiety* ; Dental Staff ; Dentists ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Muscle Relaxation ; Qualitative Research ; Relaxation

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the effect of behavioral relaxation training on distress and cancer screening intention of patients with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.METHODS: The research was conducted in a non-equivalent control group posttest design. Data were collected from endoscopy subjects in B city from October to November of 2018. Fifteen minutes of behavioral relaxation training were provided to the experimental group (n=40) and traditional relaxation therapy methods were provided to the control group (n=40). Outcome measures were distress and cancer screening intention of patients with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Data were analyzed with a χ²-test, independent t-test, Fisher's exact test with SPSS/PC version 23.0.RESULTS: The objective discomfort (t=8.81, p<.001) of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group; there were no significant differences in the subjective discomfort (t=1.73, p=.088). The cancer screening intention (t=−5.85, p<.001) of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group.CONCLUSION: Behavioral relaxation training was effective in heightening cancer screening intention. Therefore it can be usefully applied to increase cancer screening intention.
Early Detection of Cancer ; Education ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Humans ; Intention ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Relaxation Therapy ; Relaxation

PURPOSE: This quantitative meta analysis sought to determine the effectiveness of SMIs. METHOD: Forty-six experimental studies with a randomized or nonequivalent control group pre-post test design were included in the analysis. The selected studies were classified according to the sample characteristics, the types and methods of the interventions, and the types of outcome variables. Six intervention types were distinguished: cognitive-behavioral intervention(CBT), relaxation techniques(RT), exercise(EX), multimodal programs 1 and 2(MT1, 2), and organizationfocused interventions(OTs). Effect sizes were calculated for the 4 outcome categories across intervention types: psycho-social outcome, behavioral-personal resources, physiologic, and organizational outcome. RESULTS: Individual worker-focused interventions(ITs) were more effective than OTs. A small but significant overall effect was found. A moderate effect was found for RT, and small effects were found for other ITs. The effect size for OTs was the smallest. The interventions involving CBT and RT appeared to be the preferred means of reducing worker's psycho-social and organizational outcomes. With regard to physiologic outcomes, RT appeared to be most effective. CBT appeared to be most effective in reducing psycho-social outcomes. The effects of OT were non-significant, except for the psycho-social outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: SMIs are effective. Interventions involving RT and CBT are more effective than other types.
Cognitive Therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Humans ; Organizational Objectives ; Relaxation Therapy ; Stress, Psychological/*therapy

PURPOSE: This study investigated evidence for the use of relaxation therapies as interventions to decrease irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms and severity as well as reduce anxiety and improve quality of life in IBS patients. METHODS: A search of electronic bibliographic databases (e.g., Medline Ovid, Embase, KoreaMed, and National Discovery for Science Leaders) was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials that included relaxation exercise programs for adults (>18 years old) with IBS. Of the 486 publications identified, 8 studies met inclusion and exclusion criteria, and all studies were used in the meta-analysis. We used Cochrane's risk of bias to assess study quality. RESULTS: The results showed that IBS symptoms decreased significantly, 6.19 (95% confidence interval [2.74, 14.02]) and there was no heterogeneity. Symptom severity and anxiety decreased by 0.38 (95% confidence interval [-1.41, 0.65]) and -0.08 (95% confidence interval [-0.38, 0.23]) due to relaxation therapies, but theses scores were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: This review revealed positive effects of relaxation therapy on IBS symptoms in adult patients with IBS. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of studies examined and the associated methodological problems. Further studies are needed to ascertain the longterm effects of relaxation therapy and the underlying psychosocial mechanisms leading to anxiety reduction and improved quality of life.
Adult ; Anxiety ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Databases, Bibliographic ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome* ; Population Characteristics ; Quality of Life ; Relaxation ; Relaxation Therapy*