I came a cross a recent study which tried to compare the effect of progressive relaxation and reflexology on the stress levels experienced by Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers.
The idea behind this study was that having a chronic, progressive illness like Multiple Sclerosis was very stressful for someone diagnosed with the disease. There are many different outcomes with Multiple Sclerosis, some people stay stable for many years and have only minor “episodes”. Others have one major episode after another and the condition worsens rapidly over a very brief period of time.
The uncertainty as to how the disease will progress creates huge amounts of stress for the person diagnosed as well as their families.
During the study the participants received either 6 weeks of reflexology treatments or were taught progressive muscle relaxation. They had a 4 week break, then they changed over. What I found interesting was that both treatments were equally effective in reducing overall stress levels. Stress was measured by taking saliva and checking the cortisol levels, measuring blood pressure, heart rate and filling out a specific questionnaire that measures anxiety.
What was also interesting was that the researchers found the study difficult to assess at the end because the positive effects of the first treatment didn’t wear off during the 4 week break. So when the study participants went in to try out the second form of treatment they were less stressed than when they had started out with the first treatment.
So – how does all this benefit us? It proves that progressive relaxation (and reflexology) reduce stress levels in a very real and physical way. It can be measured and the effect lasts for a few weeks even when no further relaxation (or reflexology) is practised. Reducing stress is important and beneficial no matter what your condition is, so I encourage you to regularly practise relaxation, it is well worth it.
For those of you who want to know all the details, here is the reference:
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 15 (2009) 14-21
Reflexology and progressive muscle relaxation training for people with multiple sclerosis: A crossover trial Peter A. Mackereth a,*, Katie Booth b, Valerie F. Hillier b, Ann-Louise Caress b
a Christie Hospital NHS Trust, University of Derby (Buxton campus), Rehabilitation Unit, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
b The University of Manchester, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, Coupland Building 111, Coupland Street, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Till next time,
Connie,
Your Yoga Partner
from
http://www.yogainahurry.com
A number of my colleagues and friends have asked me to tell them more about what Spiritfest was like, what exactly I did there…..so here is my little summary.
