Biofeedback and Progressive Relaxation: Effects on Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

Two groups of subjects were pretrained in Jacobson's progressive relaxation, then instructed to lower their blood pressure while receiving contingent feedback or no feedback for two 1-hr sessions. A third group was pretrained in a control relaxation procedure, then instructed to lower blood pressure while receiving contingent feedback. All subjects returned for a Follow-up session in which they attempted to reduce blood pressure without feedback. The results indicated reliable decreases in systolic blood pressure for all three groups in the first two sessions. The group pretrained in progressive relaxation and given feedback achieved greater control than the other two groups which did not differ from each other. During the Follow-up session, blood pressure decreases were small but reliable in the two groups pretrained in progressive relaxation. Heart rate and diastolic blood pressure decreased in all groups, with the progressive relaxation groups achieving the lowest levels. It is concluded that progressive relaxation and blood pressure feedback in combination are highly compatible and that progressive relaxation allows for modest blood pressure control in the absence of feedback.