Relaxation training and guided imagery
Progressive muscle relaxation, breathing exercises and guided imagery are simple techniques that reduce anxiety and treatment-related distress during chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Guidelines say they may be offered, and audio versions cost nothing.
Overview
Relaxation techniques (progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, autogenic training) and guided imagery have been tested in dozens of small randomised trials in people receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with consistent reductions in anxiety, anticipatory nausea and treatment-related distress, and some improvement in sleep and pain. The 2023 SIO-ASCO anxiety and depression guideline says relaxation may be offered for anxiety during treatment, and the 2022 pain guideline lists guided imagery with progressive muscle relaxation as an option for general cancer pain. Effect sizes are small to moderate, trials are unblinded and many are decades old. The techniques are freely available as recordings and integrate easily into chemotherapy suites.
How it works
Deliberate muscle release and slow breathing engage the parasympathetic system and interrupt anticipatory anxiety; imagery redirects attention away from threat.
- Free, self-administered, safe
- Included in SIO-ASCO 2022 and 2023 guidance
- Useful for anticipatory nausea and claustrophobia in scanners
- Small, older trials
- Small effect sizes
- No effect on disease outcomes
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"Relaxation training and guided imagery" OR ABSTRACT:"Relaxation training and guided imagery") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Relaxation training and guided imagery, not a curated reading list.
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