1Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India
2Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Online published on 1 October, 2011.
To compare the effectiveness between diaphragmatic breathing exercise (DBE) and Jacobson's progressive muscle relaxation (JPMR) technique compared to control supine lying on cardiorespiratory parameters in healthy men.
Randomized cross-over study design. Thirty healthy male volunteers were randomly assigned by block randomization into three groups (Group A, B and C). Subjects in each group were exposed to three experimental relaxation techniques in three different sequences with one week of washout period. The three techniques used for the study were JPMR, DBE and supine lying was chosen as a control technique. Subjects underwent two sessions of relaxation technique in a day followed by washout period of one week, then followed by other two relaxation techniques according to assigned groups. The cardio-respiratory parameters selected for measurement were Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), Heart rate (HR) and Respiratory Rate (RR).
Two-way ANOVA for repeated measure showed a decrease of SBP by 8.4mmHg, DBP by 3.6mmHg, HR by 6.20 beats\minute, and RR by 4.57 breaths\minute following 12 minutes of diaphragmatic breathing exercise with p<0.0001. Multiple comparison with bonferroni method showed DBE had significant decrease in all the variables measured, compared to JPMR and control supine lying with p<0.05.
Diaphragmatic breathing technique is effective in the reduction of cardiorespiratory parameters compared to jacobson's progressive muscle relaxation and control supine lying in healthy men.
Diaphragmatic breathing, Jacobson's progressive muscle relaxation, relaxation, stress management
