title: Relaxation and the relief of cancer pain.
abstract: Progressive muscle relaxation combined with guided imagery has the potential to promote relief of cancer pain. The techniques appear to produce a relaxation response that may break the pain-muscle-tension-anxiety cycle and facilitate pain relief through a calming effect. The techniques can be taught by nurses and readily learned by patients. The techniques provide a self-care strategy that, to a limited extent, shifts the locus of control from clinician to patient.
authors.affiliation: University of Sydney, Faculty of Nursing, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sloman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000193:education; D013637:Tape Recording