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Glossary

Progressive muscle relaxation (Jacobson)

[Subterm of Mind-body medicine]

Progressive muscle relaxation is a relaxation technique pioneered in 1930 by Dr. Edmund Jacobson, an American physician. This technique is based on the notion that it is impossible to be tense in any part of the body when all of the muscles are completely relaxed. Tension in involuntary muscles and organs can be reduced if the associated skeletal muscles are relaxed. Other relaxation techniques involve passive muscle relaxation, refocusing, breathing control, or imagery (a self-hypnotic Ericksonian technique).