Biomaterial Database

Heart rate and finger pulse amplitude during muscular relaxation with frontalis versus forearm EMG feedback. 1979

F Sagberg

Twenty-nine volunteers participated in a one-session experiment consisting of 10 min rest followed by a 30 min treatment period. Brief relaxation instructions were given at the beginning of the rest period. The treatment was either frontalis EMG feedback, forearm EMG feedback, or non-contingent stimulation. The two feedback groups showed EMG decreases in their respective target muscles during the no-feedback rest period, with no further decrease during feedback training, indicating that feedback was no more effective than relaxation instructions. Heart rate decreased significantly in both feedback groups. Finger pulse amplitude decreased significantly in the forearm feedback group. It is pointed out that the latter change does not necessarily indicate peripheral vasoconstriction, but may be due to a fall in pulse pressure as a consequence of increased blood flow to the relaxing muscles. The results are unsupportive of the assumption that frontalis relaxation is particularly effective in inducing a generalized relaxation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009126	Muscle Relaxation	That phase of a muscle twitch during which a muscle returns to a resting position.	Muscle Relaxations,Relaxation, Muscle,Relaxations, Muscle
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D011674	Pulse	The rhythmical expansion and contraction of an ARTERY produced by waves of pressure caused by the ejection of BLOOD from the left ventricle of the HEART as it contracts.	Pulses
D012064	Relaxation Therapy	Treatment to improve one's health condition by using techniques that can reduce PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS; or both.	Relaxation Techniques,Therapeutic Relaxation,Ecotherapy,Nature Therapy,Relaxation Technics,Therapy, Relaxation,Ecotherapies,Nature Therapies,Relaxation Technic,Relaxation Technique,Relaxation, Therapeutic,Technic, Relaxation,Technique, Relaxation,Techniques, Relaxation,Therapy, Nature
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005152	Facial Muscles	Muscles of facial expression or mimetic muscles that include the numerous muscles supplied by the facial nerve that are attached to and move the skin of the face. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Mimetic Muscles,Facial Muscle,Mimetic Muscle,Muscle, Facial,Muscle, Mimetic,Muscles, Facial,Muscles, Mimetic
D005260	Female		Females
D005385	Fingers	Four or five slender jointed digits in humans and primates, attached to each HAND.	Finger