General Relaxation

GENERAL RELAXATION
Support, comfort and a restful atmosphere are basic conditions for general relaxation.
SUPPORT
Various forms and modifications of the lying position are used, to achieve full support of the body, the relative
suitability of each one varying according to the condition of the patient and to individual preference.
1. Lying Spine
A firm surface is essential and if resilient also.
A head pillow is required which is sufficiently soft to prevent the head from rolling to either side and to be well
moulded to support the neck posteriorly. A small pillow under the knees relieves tension on the hamstrings and the
ilio-femoral ligament and consequently allows the pelvis to roll backwards.
2. Half lying
Body is bent at the hips and trunk is raised from lying to any angle up to 90.
Breathing is easier and there is a less weight on the back and abdominal pressure on the under surface of the
diaphragm is reduced.
3. Prone Lying
In prone position, face is down.
Head is turn to one side and may rest on a small pillow , if more comfortable.
All the body parts are relaxed and the head also get relaxed, if it turned and kept a part.
This position is very much difficult for the respiratory distress and elderly patients.
LOCAL RELAXATION
DEFINATION:
Relaxation limited to a particular muscle group or to a certain.
Preparatory to massage and passive movement. It can complement starching program
For relief of spasm.
To prevent adaptive shortening.
PREPARATORY TO MASSAGE AND PASSIVE MOVEMENT

passive movement a movement of the body or of the extremities of a patient performed by another person
without voluntary motion on the part of the patient.
Preparatory to Massage and Passive Movement Massage and passive movement both presuppose relaxation of
the area under treatment. Relaxation is obtain by a specific area by the application to that area of the general
principles already described for the whole body.
Local relaxation is gained through
Heat: superficial or deep heat is applied to increase circulation to the soft tissue. (increase soft tissue extensibility
prior stretching exercises)
Massage: superficial and deep massage can be used to increase local circulation and decrease muscle spasm.
Biofeedback: it reduce the amount of tension in a muscle (visual and /or auditory biofeedback).
FOR THE REALEASE OF SPASM

Spasm due to pain is protective and most effectively reduced by the relief of pain
It persisit because of fair of pain
Pain free movemnt are often successful ,
Pendular movement start in the free range gradually increased in amplitude may restore confidence and acived
relexation.
Rest is a main factor .
MASSAGE THERAPIST WAYS

1. Reduce stress - The longterm effects of stress can take emotional and physical tolls. Massage
therapy may relieve stress and conditions associated with it, such as tension headaches.
2. Get better sleep - Research indicates that massage can improve sleep in those with lower back pain,
fibromaylgia, insomnia, pain and other health conditions.
3. Boost mental health and wellness - Research suggests that symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression (all
associated with mental health) may be directly affected with massage therapy.
4. Manage pain - Pain can negatively affect a person’s quality of life and impede recovery from illness or
injury. Research shows massage can help low-back pain, headaches, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and more.
5. Increase range of motion - Elite and recreational athletes alike can benefit from massage therapy. Massage can
help reduce muscle tension, improve exercise performance and prevent injuries
IN PREVENTING AND ADAPTIVE SHORTENIG

Persistent tension or hypertonicity of muscles acting upon one aspect of a joint produes a state of muscular
imblance wich lead to adapted shorting muscles .
Weaking of antagonistic muscles .
To increased range of muscles we perform relexation and strengthening technique.
Individual Exercises
Therapist gives special attention.
Done in hospital setting, ICU, patient setting.
When the patient is in acute stage of disease/condition.

Advantages
Special care
Proper attention
Improvement well documented
Progress notes maintained
Easy to teach such kind of exercises.
Proper psychological counseling done for the patient individually.
Disadvantages
Time consuming
Costly for the patient to avail
Tiring for the therapist
More man power (therapist) required
To much individual attention leads the patient to rely on the presence of therapist as a stimulus for activity
Group Exercises
Patient perform exercise in a group
Performed at rehabilitation centers and at a community level
Small number of patients form the group 6-8 people who have common disability which will benefit for exercises
and are similar in character
Number of people treated in a group depend to some extent on the nature of disability, how much help or
resistance each will require and on the ability of physiotherapist to see and give adequate attention.
The Value of Group Exercises

Good motivations for participants stimulate his effort
Good feeling and team spirit is developed
An ability to do and perform, to move ahead in life develops among patients
Less man power required
Patient can learn exercises faster – as a group motivations occur
Exercises can be timed and finished rather than waiting and doing it individually
Patient learns to take responsibility of his own exercise
Patients are helpful to forget their disability temporarily by game like activities
Effort is stimulated by some activities which call for mild form of competition
Disadvantages
Space required
Same type of people required
Mirrors, space , mates required
Same type patients can only form a group
Less attention and time given individually to the patient.
THE REFLEX ARC

“The reflex arc is the pathway of impulses which give rise to reflex activity”.
In its most simple form it consists of 2 neurons:
Afferent neuron
Efferent neuron
AFFERENT NEURON: it leads the nerve impulse from sensory receptor to CNS.
EFFERENT NEURON: it lead the nerve impulse from CNS to effector organs (muscle fibers).
THE REFLEX ARC

Few reflex arcs are as simple as this, most of them consisting a chain of neurons in which one or several connecting
neurons lie between the afferent and efferent neurons.
USES OF REFLEX ACTIVITY:

Improve or facilitate movement
Maintenance of the posture
THE STRETCH REFLEX

“ This is spinal reflex activated by stretching a muscle”.
When an innervated muscle is stretched it responds by contracting and developing tension to counteract the
stretching force; this provides a means of promoting activity in muscles when voluntary is ineffective or too weak to
do so.
THE STRETCH REFLEX

Quick stretching stimulates the muscle spindles which are proprioceptive receptors so that they discharge impulses
which reach the A.H.Cs by mono-synaptic pathways.
Tension in a contracting muscle is increased by the application of a resisting force and the quality of contraction is
improved.
Contraction of muscles in response to stretch is accompanied by a reciprocal inhibition of antagonistic muscles to

permit movement.

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GENERAL RELAXATION

Preparatory to massage and passive movement. It can complement starching program

For relief of spasm.

To prevent adaptive shortening.

PREPARATORY TO MASSAGE AND PASSIVE MOVEMENT

FOR THE REALEASE OF SPASM

It persisit because of fair of pain

Pain free movemnt are often successful ,

Rest is a main factor .

MASSAGE THERAPIST WAYS

IN PREVENTING AND ADAPTIVE SHORTENIG

Weaking of antagonistic muscles .

To increased range of muscles we perform relexation and strengthening technique.

Done in hospital setting, ICU, patient setting.

When the patient is in acute stage of disease/condition.

Improvement well documented

Progress notes maintained

Easy to teach such kind of exercises.

Proper psychological counseling done for the patient individually.

Costly for the patient to avail

Tiring for the therapist

More man power (therapist) required

Performed at rehabilitation centers and at a community level

The Value of Group Exercises

Good feeling and team spirit is developed

An ability to do and perform, to move ahead in life develops among patients

Less man power required

Patient can learn exercises faster – as a group motivations occur

Patient learns to take responsibility of his own exercise

Same type of people required

Mirrors, space , mates required

Same type patients can only form a group

Less attention and time given individually to the patient.

THE REFLEX ARC

In its most simple form it consists of 2 neurons:

THE REFLEX ARC

USES OF REFLEX ACTIVITY:

Maintenance of the posture

THE STRETCH REFLEX

THE STRETCH REFLEX

Contraction of muscles in response to stretch is accompanied by a reciprocal inhibition of antagonistic muscles to

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