The Efficiency of Functional Relaxation in Acute Bronchoconstriction Comparable with the Effect of a Sympathomimetic Drug?

Author(s): Weber, A., Martus, P., Hahn, E., Siegfried, W

Abstract: Objective: Patients with a reversible airway obstruction can notice an improvement of their complaints after practising 'functional relaxation' (in German 'Funktionelle Entspannung', FE) by themselves, partially after a short introduction. FE is a body-oriented psychotherapy method, which was developed in 1944 by the German physiotherapist M. Fuchs. In contrast to the Autogenous Training it is not based on suggestion, but on the concentration on body perception while moving the joints of the skeleton smoothly. In a parallel manner the naturally present, individual autonomic rhythm of respiration is supported. In a prospective controlled study the short-term efficiency of a 5-minute standardised introduction of components of FE (EFE) was compared with a standardised bronchodilatative test with terbutaline [500 mg inhaled terbutaline (IT), retest after 15 min]. Study Design, Patient Selection Criteria and Interventions: 29 consecutive patients with different underlying diseases and an acute airway obstruction underwent IT on the first day. They were asked to present the next day at the same time again. lf they had once more a pathological airway resistance (Raw) measured by bodyplethysmography and if they wanted to participate in the study, they were trained in EFE. Main Outcome Measures: The Raw measured by bodyplethysmography and the specific Raw, which is less dependent on the patient's compliance, were used for statistical evaluation. 'Me individual success was defined as a treatment effect greater than two standard deviations of the intraindividually repeated measurements. Results: Raw baselines before IT and EFE were comparable for both groups. Both therapies led to a significant mean decrease of Raw (p<0.01). The comparison revealed no superiority of a therapy (t test: p> 0.9). Conclusions: For the prevention of airway obstruction attacks and for the therapy of acute bronchoconstriction FE could have a favourable and medication-reducing effect.

Keyword(s): Entspannungstechnik

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