Significant reductions in abdominal pain in children can be achieved by following a relaxation regime on a CD, according to research in Paediatrics reported in BBC Health.
Stomach pain in children, often with no diagnosis ever established, occurs in up to one in five children. The researchers used a psychological relaxation technique called guided imagery which showed a significant improvement in the relaxation group compared to those who did not use the technique.
Reduction in anxiety is one of the effects of such a technique but it may also have a direct effect on the central nervous system, reducing the hypersensitivity to inputs from the gut. Physiotherapists routinely use relaxation and imagery techniques to teach patients control of chronic pain. |
