Key result
Deep muscle relaxation therapy reduces plasma norepinephrine and myocardial contractility in organic heart disease.
Why the study?
The physiological effects of deep muscle relaxation therapy on cardiac performance and sympathetic activity in patients with organic heart disease were not well characterized.
Does deep muscle relaxation therapy alter cardiac performance and sympathetic activity in patients with organic heart disease?
Does deep muscle relaxation therapy alter cardiac performance and sympathetic activity in patients with organic heart disease?
Deep muscle relaxation therapy may reduce sympathetic nervous system activity and myocardial contractility in patients with organic heart disease.
Relaxation was associated with lower norepinephrine and contractility in n=6; hypothesis-generating and should not change practice.
Six patients, with surgically implanted tantalum myocardial markers, were trained in deep muscle relaxation therapy. Analysis of individual responses and group means of blood pressure and ventricular dimensions during relaxation showed a decrease in plasma norepinephrine levels and indices of myocardial contractility compared to the control state. Heart rate changes in individuals during relaxation were directly correlated with changes in plasma norepinephrine levels, although group means for heart rate did not change significantly between control and relaxation periods. Base-line plasma norepinephrine levels were directly correlated with systolic blood pressure and were inveresly correlated with a measure of myocardial contractility. These data suggest that physiological changes during relaxation may be mediated through the sympathetic nervous system.
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Davidson et al. (1979) studied Organic Heart Disease (n=6). Deep muscle relaxation therapy vs. Control state was evaluated on Plasma norepinephrine levels and indices of myocardial contractility. Deep muscle relaxation therapy decreased plasma norepinephrine levels and indices of myocardial contractility compared to the control state in patients with organic heart disease.
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