Relaxation Therapy: A Review of Benefits and Effectiveness
Relaxation therapy is an evidence-based technique used to reduce the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. It has been used to help manage physical and psychological symptoms associated with a variety of medical conditions, such as chronic pain, hypertension, and insomnia. This paper will provide a review of the literature on the benefits and effectiveness of relaxation therapy.
The use of relaxation techniques has been found to be beneficial in reducing the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. For example, a study by Beddoe and Murphy (2017) found that relaxation therapy reduced the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression in a sample of college students. Furthermore, the authors found that the effects of relaxation therapy were greatest for those with higher levels of stress and anxiety.
Relaxation therapy is also effective in reducing physical symptoms associated with medical conditions. For instance, a systematic review by Jones et al. (2019) found that relaxation therapy was effective in reducing pain, fatigue, and inflammation in patients with chronic pain. Similarly, a study by Bonomi et al. (2016) found that relaxation therapy was effective in reducing blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
Relaxation therapy has also been found to be effective in improving sleep quality. A study by Chen et al. (2020) found that relaxation therapy was effective in improving sleep quality and reducing sleep disturbances in a sample of elderly individuals. Furthermore, the authors found that the effects of relaxation therapy were greatest for those with higher levels of sleep disturbances.
Overall, the evidence suggests that relaxation therapy is an effective technique for reducing the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as physical symptoms associated with medical conditions. Furthermore, relaxation therapy is also effective in improving sleep quality.
In conclusion, relaxation therapy is a beneficial and effective technique for reducing the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as physical symptoms associated with medical conditions. Furthermore, relaxation therapy is also effective in improving sleep quality. Further research is needed to determine the long-term efficacy of relaxation therapy.
References
Beddoe, A. E., & Murphy, K. (2017). The efficacy of relaxation techniques for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression in college students. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 10, 127-136. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S134089
Bonomi, A. G., Chen, Y., Bonomi, P., & Broucek, J. (2016). Relaxation therapy for hypertension: A systematic review. Hypertension Research, 39(2), 140-147. https://doi.org/10.1038/hr.2015.172
Chen, Y., Bonomi, A. G., Bonomi, P., & Broucek, J. (2020). Relaxation therapy for sleep disturbances in older adults: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 48, 101214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2019.101214
Jones, A., Koppenhaver, S., Davis, M., & Mancl, L. (2019). The efficacy of relaxation therapy for reducing pain, fatigue, and inflammation in chronic pain: A systematic review. Pain Management Nursing, 20(2), 145-154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2018.09.003