Progressive muscle relaxation as part of the home programmes for children with learning disabilities and anxiety

Abstract

This study explored the effect of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), as a home programme, on anxiety levels and functional activity participation of children with learning disabilities (LD) and anxiety, attending occupational therapy (OT) intervention. In this multiple case study research design, three participants’ anxiety levels and functional activity participation were measured at three study intervals, by parents, teachers and the researcher (who was also the treating OT). The PMR home programme was in the form of a12-minuteaudio CD, produced by the researcher, and demonstrated in one training session with each parent and participant. The home programme was then followed three times a week, for a period of 16-weeks, while the participants continued to attend OT intervention as usual at the researcher’s private practice. Results indicated that anxiety levels did improve, but only marginally on the measurement scales, with no complete alleviation of anxiety. Overall functional activity participation improved from parents and researcher perspective, but not at school, where a decline in functional activity participation was noted for two of the three participants. The PMR technique was not applied as a coping strategy by any of the participants. This research showed that PMR, as a stand-alone home programme, was not applied by participants as a coping skill and thus did not significantly improve their anxiety levels or functional activity participation at school