Acute Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Brain Waves

NCT ID: NCT07089537

Last Updated: 2025-07-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 32 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-02-24
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-31

Brief Summary

In modern environments, stress is present regardless of age or social role. Stress does not always have negative effects; in fact, it is a necessary response for survival, known as the stress response. This response includes increased heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and decreased alpha brainwave activity. These physiological changes are primarily regulated by the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, enabling us to cope with environmental threats. However, when the stress response system becomes overwhelmed or imbalanced-whether due to accumulated chronic stress or acute stress-it may result in adverse effects on both physical and mental health.

Relaxation techniques are non-pharmacological methods that promote parasympathetic nervous system activity. The goal is to reduce excessive arousal, alleviate anxiety, slow down thought processes, and relieve stress, thereby achieving relaxation in a natural way. These methods help lower blood pressure, improve circulation, relax muscles, and enhance concentration. Previous studies have demonstrated a correlation between relaxation and attention, suggesting that relaxation can improve attentional efficiency. Moreover, it is well-documented that executive function tends to decline under stress. Relaxation techniques are commonly incorporated into psychological therapies, yet they are more accessible, easier to practice, and can be conveniently performed at home.

Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether PMR can produce immediate relaxation effects as measured by EEG (cortical excitability), heart rate variability, and muscle tone, and whether it can improve performance under psychological stress. The goal is to further explore the potential application of PMR in healthy populations facing acute stress conditions.

Conditions

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

progressive muscle relaxation

Participants will undergo approximately 30 minutes of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). Prior to the session, a brief introduction to the basic concepts of PMR will be provided. Participants will be instructed to close their eyes and focus on the sensations in their muscles. Following verbal instructions, they will sequentially contract and relax 14 major muscle groups from top to bottom. For each muscle group, participants will be asked to contract the muscles as strongly as possible for 7 seconds, followed by a 45-second relaxation period. This process will be repeated twice for each muscle group.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

progressive muscle relaxaiton

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will undergo approximately 30 minutes of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). Prior to the session, a brief introduction to the basic concepts of PMR will be provided. Participants will be instructed to close their eyes and focus on the sensations in their muscles. Following verbal instructions, they will sequentially contract and relax 14 major muscle groups from top to bottom. For each muscle group, participants will be asked to contract the muscles as strongly as possible for 7 seconds, followed by a 45-second relaxation period. This process will be repeated twice for each muscle group.

Rest

Intervention Type: OTHER

Rest in a semi-recumbent position with eyes closed for 30 minutes, without any additional intervention.

rest

rest in a semi-recumbent position with eyes closed for 30 minutes, without any additional intervention.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

progressive muscle relaxaiton

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will undergo approximately 30 minutes of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). Prior to the session, a brief introduction to the basic concepts of PMR will be provided. Participants will be instructed to close their eyes and focus on the sensations in their muscles. Following verbal instructions, they will sequentially contract and relax 14 major muscle groups from top to bottom. For each muscle group, participants will be asked to contract the muscles as strongly as possible for 7 seconds, followed by a 45-second relaxation period. This process will be repeated twice for each muscle group.

Rest

Intervention Type: OTHER

Rest in a semi-recumbent position with eyes closed for 30 minutes, without any additional intervention.

Interventions

progressive muscle relaxaiton

Participants will undergo approximately 30 minutes of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). Prior to the session, a brief introduction to the basic concepts of PMR will be provided. Participants will be instructed to close their eyes and focus on the sensations in their muscles. Following verbal instructions, they will sequentially contract and relax 14 major muscle groups from top to bottom. For each muscle group, participants will be asked to contract the muscles as strongly as possible for 7 seconds, followed by a 45-second relaxation period. This process will be repeated twice for each muscle group.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Rest

Rest in a semi-recumbent position with eyes closed for 30 minutes, without any additional intervention.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy adults
• Age: 18 years and above
• Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 24
• Able to remain in a semi-recumbent position for 2 hours

Exclusion Criteria

• Individuals with communication impairments or difficulty understanding instructions
• Color vision deficiency
• Open wounds or injuries on the scalp
• Currently taking medications that affect cardiovascular or autonomic nervous system regulation
• Muscle strain or pain

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Kaohsiung Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Hsinyu Sun

graduate student

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Kaohsiung Medical University

Kaohsiung City, , Taiwan

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Taiwan

Central Contacts

Miaoju Hsu

Role: CONTACT

mjhsu@kmu.edu.tw

886+73121101 ext. 2673

Hsinyu Sun

Role: CONTACT

bearcat97203@gmail.com

886+989663315

Facility Contacts

Prof. Hsu

Role: primary

mjhsu@kmu.edu.tw

886+73121101 ext. 2673

Hsinyu Sun

Role: backup

bearcat97203@gmail.com

886+989663315

Other Identifiers

KMUHIRB-E(I)-20240388

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id