L. Engel et Lb. Andersen, Effects of body-mind training and relaxation stretching on persons with chronic toxic encephalopathy, PAT EDUC C, 39(2-3), 2000, pp. 155-161
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science","Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health
The purpose of this project was to investigate the psychological and physic
al effects of training of body awareness and slow stretching on persons wit
h chronic toxic encephalopathy (CTE). In the present study, a method of sel
f-regulation, a body-mind training, is presented. The body-mind training us
ed was a guided relaxation technique combined with meditative stretching. T
he techniques are introduced and the psychological and physiological effect
s of the training is presented. Eight subjects with CTE, 48.5 years, were t
rained for 8 weeks. Outcome measures were percentage alpha brain waves (alp
ha%), electromyography (EMG) on the frontalis muscle, state-trait anxiety (
STAI), creativity (RAT), and mood measured as anxiousness, humour and menta
l fatigue. The mean alpha% increased 52% during the training period (P < 0.
01), and the EMG decreased 31% (P < 0.001). State anxiety decreased 22% dur
ing the training period (P < 0.01), but no changes were observed in trait a
nxiety and in the creativity score. The level of anxiousness and fatigue be
fore a training session decreased during the training period. In conclusion
, the body-mind training resulted in an improved ability for physical and m
ental relaxation as indicated from the lower EMG, the higher alpha% and the
decrease in state anxiety. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All righ
ts reserved.