HYPNOTICALLY-INDUCED VASODILATION IN THE TREATMENT OF REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURIES

The study examined the effectiveness of behaviorally-induced vasodilat ion (hypnosis with biofeedback and autogenics) in the treatment of upp er extremity repetitive strain injuries (RSI). Thirty patients with re cent onset of upper extremity RSI symptoms were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment conditions, i.e., hypnotically-induced vasodilation or a waiting-list control. Treatments were given on an individual basis, once a week for 6 weeks. Patients in the treatment condition showed h ighly significant increases in hand temperature between pre- and post- treatment. Patients in the treatment condition also showed highly sign ificant reductions in pain in comparison to the waiting list condition .