Adapting Relaxation Techniques to Rural Populations: Implications for High Blood Pressure Therapy*

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Clinical studies have indicated that inducing the relaxation response through behavior modification can likely lower the blood pressures of hypertensives. However, many of the relaxation techniques commonly used are unsuitable for use in undereducated, isolated, poor, rural, or elderly populations. More suitable techniques were developed for use with these populations in central Mississippi. These simplified techniques were pilot tested on a sample of hypertensives as well as matched hypertensive controls. Over a three month period the systolic blood pressures of the test group were significantly lowered (p=.008) while no significant change occurred in the control group. This paper critiques traditional relaxation techniques as applied to certain populations, describes the simplified techniques used in Mississippi, and presents the results of the trial application. The results suggest that relaxation may help hypertensives control high blood pressure by increasing their ability to cope with the stresses of their therapeutic regimen as well as inducing a direct physiological response.