Open AccessImpact of regular relaxation training on the cardiac autonomic nervous system of hospital cleaners and bank employees.
Author(s) -
Helli Toivanen,
Esko Länsimies,
Veikko Jokela,
Osmo Hänninen
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of work, environment and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.621
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1795-990X
pISSN - 0355-3140
DOI - 10.5271/sjweh.1468
Subject(s) - autonomic nervous system , diaphragmatic breathing , medicine , heart rate , relaxation (psychology) , orthostatic vital signs , physical therapy , breathing , anesthesia , psychology , blood pressure , alternative medicine , pathology
The work-related strain of 50 female hospital cleaners and 48 female bank employees was recorded during a period of rationalization in the workplace, and the effect of daily relaxation to help the workers cope was tested. The subjects were arranged into age-matched pairs and randomly allocated into intervention and reference groups. The intervention period lasted six months. The relaxation method was brief and easily introduced as an alternative break in the workplace. Each training session lasted 15 min. A microcomputer-based system was used to record heart rate variability in response to quiet breathing, the Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing, and active orthostatic tests. Cardiac reflexes indicated that occupational strain (especially of a mental nature) caused the functioning of the autonomic nervous system to deteriorate. Regular deep relaxation normalized the function and improved the ability to cope.