EFFECTS OF RELAXATION TECHNIQUES ON BLOOD LIPID PROFILES AND A PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS MEASURE.

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1749 The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of relaxation techniques on blood lipid profiles and a psychological stress measure, in exercising women during an 8 - 10 week study. Nineteen aerobically exercising women (mean±SD) age of 35.8±7.8 yrs, with pre-test descriptive measures of (means±SD) 66.5±12.6 bpm resting heart rate, 107.7±12.7 mmHg systolic and 74.0±8.6 mmHg diastolic resting blood pressure, 24.8±8.7 % bodyfat (skinfold), and 35.8±11.2 ml/kg/min submaximal bicycle tests, participated as either the exercise and relaxation group (ER) or the exercise only group (EX). The ER group took part in a twice weekly, 45 minute relaxation class including abdominal breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and relaxation response technique and a third 20 minute session on their own time. Total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TRI), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and the Stress Audit psychological assessment (which reflects three facets of stress factors including: source, susceptibility, and symptoms) were measured during days 2-6 of menstrual cycle one, (MC1), menstrual cycle two (MC2), and menstrual cycle three (MC3), respectively. A MANOVA was used to detect differences between lipid profiles and Stress Audit results at MC1, MC2, and MC3. Results indicate no significant differences between the interaction of group by test (MC1 vs. group 1, MC1 vs. group 2; MC2 vs. group 1, MC2 vs. group 2; MC3 vs. group 1, & MC3 vs. group 2) on any of the variables, specifically (mean±SD) TC 213.9±45.1, 191.3±19.3; 213.4±48.3, 168.6±54.1; 203.4±40.9, 194.5±25.2 mg/dL and HDL 50.7±17.2, 55.9±14.0; 44.1±10.8, 56.1±17.4; 47.7±10.3, 58.1±13.9 mg/dL, respectively. The pearson product correlation analysis was selected to identify significant relationships among the dependent variables, but no significant relationships were noted between groups. These data suggest that relaxation techniques did not further decrease the lipid profiles or stress audit results in exercising women.