Acute Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Brain Waves

NCT07089537 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: KMUHIRB-E(I)-20240388
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Electroencephalography

  Analysis of changes in EEG band power excitability across the frontal, central, and occipital brain regions.

  20 min in total

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Muscle tension

  15 mins

• heart rate variability

  20 mins in total

• Self-Assessment Manikin

  1min

Study Arms (2)

progressive muscle relaxation

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Other: progressive muscle relaxaiton; Other: Rest

rest

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

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

Other: progressive muscle relaxaiton; Other: Rest

Interventions

progressive muscle relaxaiton 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.

progressive muscle relaxation; rest

Rest OTHER

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

progressive muscle relaxation; rest

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kaohsiung Medical University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kaohsiung Medical University

Kaohsiung City, 807378, Taiwan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Interventions

RE1-silencing transcription factor

Central Study Contacts

Miaoju Hsu

CONTACT

886+73121101; mjhsu@kmu.edu.tw

Hsinyu Sun

CONTACT

886+989663315; bearcat97203@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: graduate student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2025
• First Posted: July 28, 2025
• Study Start: February 24, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2025
• Study Completion: December 31, 2025
• Last Updated: July 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (1)