Progressive Muscle Relaxation Research Paper

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Abstract

To the general public, progressive muscle relaxation is not known as a common technique to reduce distress. Information about progressive muscle relaxation was retrieved from Seaward’s PowerPoint presentation for his textbook, Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being, The Autism Program’s pamphlet document and published material in international Global Journal for Research Analysis and International Organization of Scientific Research Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Progressive muscle relaxation is one technique to reduce stress by learning to counter the effect of muscle tension throughout the body in order to improve concentration with reducing anxiety, pain and tension.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

“Buzz, buzz, buzz,” is what is heard as the cell phone alarm clock vibrates at four o’clock in the morning to waken to complete homework assignments and study for a potential quiz. Subsequently, two hours later, the same buzzing vibration is heard as a reminder to perform morning activities of daily living before rushing to the first class. While preparing for class, thoughts of what need to be accomplished are overwhelming; thoughts of how to balance attending scheduled classes, completing homework, performing well on exams, consuming meals, attending extra-curricular club meetings, financial stress of paying late medical bills and school loans and satisfying employment requirements while maintaining a social life with friends and family significantly increase distress. How may negative stress be reduced? Progressive muscle relaxation is one technique to reduce stress by learning to counter the effect of muscle tension throughout the body in order to improve concentration with reducing anxiety, pain and tension.

According to Seaward (n.d.), Doctor Edmund Jacobson developed progressive muscle relaxation as a technique to relieve muscle tension in order to achieve resting relaxation for the body. As a result, practicing progressive muscle relaxation includes physical alterations. For example, during progressive muscle relaxation, muscles change from contraction to retraction to induce a relaxing state.

How does progressive muscle relaxation physically alter the body? According to Seaward (n.d.), neurotrophic chemical substances from neurons, or nerve fibers, result in muscle contractions; whereas, neurotransmitters that secrete epinephrine, norepinephrine and acetylcholine produce muscle retractions. Learning the difference between how contraction and retraction feels utilizes progressive muscle relaxation to teach individuals how to voluntarily perform muscle retraction to induce relaxation.

What are the benefits from the physical alterations of progressive muscle relaxation? According to The Autism Program (n.d.), progressive muscle relaxation exercises may be utilized to reduce symptoms associated with headaches, nausea, pain, insomnia or difficulty sleeping, worrying, anger and moodiness; also, poor self-confidence and concentration difficulties are improved. In addition, Nair and Meera (August 2014) conducted a study supporting that progressive muscle relaxation significantly reduces competitive, academic stress among students. The Boron-Krupinska and Kulmatycki (October 2014) research implies that alleviating the symptoms associated with worrying, stress, anxiety, depression, anger, pain and nausea improve the quality of life in reducing cardiology diseases by decreasing heart rates and blood pressures, cancer diagnoses and neurologic disorders, as well as giving a sense of control in regards to pulmonary diseases, pain management and psychiatric disorders; this supports Seaward’s (n.d.) statement that individuals utilizing progressive muscle