Purpose: This study was designed to compare the effects of two different RELAXATION techniques, namely PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION (PMR) and autogenic RELAXATION (AGR) on moods of young soccer players.Methods: Sixteen adolescent athletes (mean age: 14.1±1.3) received either PMR or AGR training. Using Profile of Mood States-Adolescents, their mood states were measured one week before RELAXATION training, before the first RELAXATION session, and after the twelfth RELAXATION session.Results: Mixed ANOVA revealed no significant interaction effects and no significant main effects in any of the subscales. However, significant main effects for testing sessions were found for confusion, depression, fatigue, and tension subscales. Post hoc tests revealed post-intervention reductions in the confusion, depression, fatigue, and tension subscale scores.Conclusions: These two RELAXATION techniques induce equivalent mood responses and may be used to regulate young soccer players’ mood states.

Background: Pregnancy may be accompanied by serious physiological and psychological changes as it is a stressful period in a woman’s life. So, this study was conducted to determine the effect of PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION on pregnant women’s general health.Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 60 primigravida women admitted to the prenatal clinic of selected hospitals in Iran constituted the study population. Using purposive sampling method, the level of general health of the women was measured with General Health Questionnaire‑28 (GHQ‑28). Then, the samples were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. Three 1.5–2 h RELAXATION training sessions were held for the experimental group. After 8 weeks, the level of general health of both groups was measured again. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using Chi‑square and pairedt ‑test (P<0.05).Results: Total mean score of general health of the experimental group and the control group before the intervention was 35.83 (6.92) and 29.46 (8.3), respectively, and after the intervention, the respective scores were 20.2 (5.61) and 27.85 (8.24). Although after the intervention both groups showed an increased level of general health, the difference in general health between before and after intervention was significant in the experimental group (P<0.001). Furthermore, comparison of variations in mean scores of general health level before and after intervention in the two groups showed a significant difference (P<0.001).Conclusions: Given that the results showed the effectiveness of PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION on pregnant women’s general health, the prenatal clinics can include a training program for PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION in the routine training programs for pregnant women.

Abstract: Labor pain is a cause of stress and suffering; for which many women seek methods to relieve this pain. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of RELAXATION techniques on pain relief during labor. This study was carried out on 62 pregnant women referred to Fatemieh hospital (Hamadan, Iran) during their labor. They were selected using convenience sampling and were divided randomly in two groups. The first group (control) received routine way of ward during their labor and the second group (test) went through the RELAXATION technique after training. The intensity of pain was determined using a standard pain number rating scale, and the behavioral reactions were recorded using an observational checklist. The statistical analysis of data showed significant difference in intensity of pain between the two groups (P= 0.0001). Also there was a significant difference in behavioral reactions between the two groups (P<0.0001). Since the RELAXATION technique is easy to perform and without any risk and also has low expenses it is recommended for pain relief during labor