Abstract
The purpose of this randomized controlled pilot study was to determine the effects of eight sessions of biofeedback-assisted relaxation training on asthma severity, respiratory function, and immunity. Twenty subjects, aged 12-22 years, with nonsteroid-dependent reactive airway disease participated. All subjects monitored symptoms and medication use throughout the study. Ten subjects were trained with relaxation techniques aided by biofeedback, and 10 subjects were controls. Results showed decreased asthma severity and decreased facial muscle tension in the experimental group but not in the control group. Improvements in asthma severity were correlated with decreases in facial muscle tension. No effects on pulmonary function were seen. Data on immune measures revealed significant decreases in immunoglobulins in both groups related to seasonal change. Increases in CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts were observed more frequently in the experimental group than in the controls. These findings, although limited by size of population, suggest that biofeedback-assisted relaxation training has potential for improvement of asthma severity and immune function in young asthmatics.
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