Samenvatting

In this study we assessed which is the most appropriate method of detecting stress to study the effect of Jacobson’s progressive relaxation exercises in patients with stress problems. In the study 7 patients are requested to fill in 3 different scales to quantify their stress before and after the exercises. In addition, their heart rate is measured and an electromyography is performed. This procedure is repeated four times. The subjects are 7 athletes of the “Centrum voor Bewegen” who all have stress problems that typically presented themselves as headache, neck ache and backache.
In the theoretic background section Jacobson’s method of progressive relaxation is further described and materials used: the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Borg’s rating of perceived exertion scale (Borg), a electromyogram (EMG), the “Algemene Toestand Lijst”(ATL) and heart rate measurement (HR). The analysis of the obtained data demonstrates that the ATL list shows a trend for a reduction in the stress problems over the four sessions The EMG shows a trend for a constant reduction of stress within one single session. The HR shows a linear contrast within subjects. The VAS and the Borg scales show no correlation or significance increase or decrease of stress over four sessions.
Based on these results we recommend an extended study with the ATL list, the HR and the EMG. These recommendation will be provided as feedback to the “Centrum voor Bewegen” and the Veenendaal municipality.