Relaxation & AVS
for pain relief

Practicing relaxation techniques involves reducing blood pressure, oxygen consumption, breathing rate, heart rate, and muscle tension. Relaxation techniques have several detectable physiological effects - lower cortisol levels and inhibition of inflammation. Relaxation has been linked to overcoming stress and relieving anxiety. It has been shown experimentally that stress relief after relaxation practice depends on the duration of relaxation practice.

 

There are several different types of relaxation techniques. The explanation for the reduction in chronic pain with relaxation techniques is that psychological stress and physical exertion support and reinforce pain.

 

It has been estimated that three months of regular relaxation practice is required to achieve a reduction in chronic pain, and its effectiveness depends on both individual differences and types of chronic pain, as well as the individual's personality.

 

AVS is widely used to reduce, eliminate and prevent chronic pain of various types as a stand-alone method and as an element of relaxation techniques combined with breathing exercises. The effectiveness of AVS application depends on the user's involvement, trust in the method and determination.

 

Pain countermeasures devices with AVS:

 

- The Sana Health device mask (www.sana.io)

- Roxiva lamp (www.roxiva.com)

- David Premier,Delight,Delight Plus complexes (www.mindalive.com)

- Complexes EMDR (https://emdrtech.com)

- Soterix Medical Complexes (www.soterixmedical.com)

- INTO device (www.in.to).

 

Scientific publications on the effects of AVS on pain control:

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- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-75943-8 Johnson, M., Simonian, N. & Reggente, N. «Lightening the mind with audiovisual stimulation as an accessible alternative to breath-focused meditation for mood and cognitive enhancement». Nature Sci Rep 14, 25553 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75943-8

 

- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169260722002802 Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine Volume 223, August 2022, 106898 Salvatore Saiu, Enrico Grosso “Controlled audio-visual stimulation for anxiety reduction”.

 

- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169260720317259

Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine Volume 200, March 2021, 105892 Diana Barsasella, Megan F. Liu, Shwetambara  Malwade, Cooper J Galvin, Eshita Dhar, Chia-Chi Chang, Yu-Chuan Jack Li, Shabbir Syed-Abdul “Effects of Virtual Reality Sessions on the Quality of Life, Happiness, and Functional Fitness among the Older People: A Randomized Controlled Trial from Taiwan”

 

- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169260710002890 Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine Volume 102, Issue 1, April 2011, Pages 17-24 Teplan, A. Krakovská, S. Štolc “Direct effects of audio-visual stimulation on EEG”

 

- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-024-01246-2 Moreau, S., Thérond, A., Cerda, I.H. et al. ”Virtual Reality in Acute and Chronic Pain Medicine: An Updated Review”. Curr Pain Headache Rep 28, 893–928 (2024).

 

- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11916-024-01258-y Hou, TW., Yang, CC., Lai, TH. et al. Light Therapy in Chronic Migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep 28, 621–626 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-024-01258-y

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- https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/etm.2021.10055 Experemental and Therapeutic Medicine Weihua Hu, Ke Yang, Li Zhang, Xu Lu. Published online on: April 14, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.10055 Article Number: 623  “Effect of media distraction (audiovisual and music) for pain and anxiety control in patients undergoing shockwave lithotripsy: A systematic review and metaanalys”

 

- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10484-014-9263-8

Tang, HY., Vitiello, M.V., Perlis, M. et al. A Pilot Study of Audio–Visual Stimulation as a Self-Care Treatment for Insomnia in Adults with Insomnia and Chronic Pain. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 39, 219–225 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-014-9263-8

 

- Budzynski, T., Budzynski, H., Sherlin, L., & Tang, H. Y. (2011). Audio–visual stimulation: Research and clinical practice. In J. Berger & G. Turow (Eds.), Music, science, and the rhythmic brain (pp. 137–153). New York: Routledge.

 

- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9996154/ «A feasibility study of pre-sleep audio and visual alpha brain entrainment for people with chronic pain and sleep disturbance» Stephen J. Halpin, Alexander J. Casson, Nicole K. Y. Tang, Anthony K. P. Jones, Rory J. O’Connor, Manoj Sivan. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2023; 4: 1096084. Published online 2023 Feb 23. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1096084

 

- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejp.960

European Journal of pain Volume21, Issue3 March 2017 Pages 562-572. K. Ecsy, A.K.P. Jones, C.A. Brown “Alpha-range visual and auditory stimulation reduces the perception of pain”. First published: 02 November 2016 https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.960

 

- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8405991/ Heliyon. 2021 Aug 20;7(8):e07837. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07837 “Relaxation techniques as an intervention for chronic pain: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials”. Sara Magelssen Vambheim , Tonje Merete Kyllo, Sanne Hegland, Martin Bystad  PMCID: PMC8405991  PMID: 34485731

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- Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Mar 28;2018(3):CD009514. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6494625/ «Relaxation techniques for pain management in labour» Caroline A Smith, Kate M Levett, Carmel T Collins, Mike Armour, Hannah G Dahlen, Machiko Suganuma Editor: Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group PMCID: PMC6494625  PMID: 29589650

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- Bair M.J., Robinson R.L., Katon W., Kroenke K. Depression and pain comorbidity: a literature review. Arch. Intern. Med. 2003;163(20):2433–2445. doi: 10.1001/archinte.163.20.2433.

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- Benson H. William Morrow and company; New York: 2000. Relaxation Response.

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- Benson H. Simon & Schuster; New York: 2010. Relaxation Revolution.

 

- Bhasin M.K., Dusek J.A., Chang B.H., Joseph M.G., Denninger J.W., Fricchione G.L., Libermann T.A. Relaxation response induces temporal transcriptome changes in energy metabolism, insulin secretion and inflammatory pathways. PloS One. 2013;8(5) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062817.

 

- Breivik H., Collett B., Ventafridda V., Cohen R., Gallacher D. Survey of chronic pain in Europe: prevalence, impact on daily life, and treatment. Eur. J. Pain. 2006;10:287–333. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2005.06.009.

 

- Bush V., Magerl W., Kern U., Haas J., Hajak G., Eichhammer P. The effect of deep and slow breathing on pain perception, autonomic activity, and mood processing – an experimental study. Pain Med. 2012;13(2):215–228. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2011.01243.x.

 

- Bushnell C.M., Čeko M., Low L.A. Cognitive and emotional control of pain and its disruption in chronic pain. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 2013;14:502–511. doi: 10.1038/nrn3516. 

 

- Chang B.H., Dusek J.A., Benson H. Psychobiological changes from relaxation response elicitation: long-term practitioners versus novices. Psychosomatics. 2011;52:550–559. doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2011.05.001. 

 

- Chen Y.L.E., Francis A.J. Relaxation and imagery for chronic, nonmalignant pain: effects on pain symptoms, quality of life, and mental health. Pain Manag. Nurs. 2010;11(3):159–168. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2009.05.005. 

 

- Concato J., Shah N., Horwitz R.I. Randomized controlled trials, observational studies and the hierarchy of research designs. N. Engl. J. Med. 2000;342:1887–1892. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200006223422507. 

 

- Coppieters I., Cagnie B., Nijs J., Van Oosterwijck J., Danneels L., De Pauw R., Meeus M. Effects of stress and relaxation on central pain modulation in chronic whiplash and fibromyalgia patients compared to healthy controls. Pain Physician. 2016;19(3):119–130. 

 

- Dunford E., Thompson M. Relaxation and mindfulness in pain: a review. Reviews in Pain. 2010;4:18–22. doi: 10.1177/204946371000400105. 

 

- Edwards P., Clarke M., DiGuiseppi C., Pratap S., Roberts I., Wentz R. Identification of randomized controlled trials in systematic reviews: accuracy and reliability of screening records. Stat. Med. 2002;21:1635–1640. doi: 10.1002/sim.1190. 

 

- Edwards R.R., Dworkin R.H., Sullivan M.D., Turk D.C., Wasan A.D. The role of psychosocial processes in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. Am Pain Soc. 2016;17(9):70–92. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2016.01.001. 

 

- Fillingim R.B. Individual differences in pain: understanding the mosaic that makes pain personal. Pain. 2017;158(1):11–18. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000775. 

 

- Finnerup N.B. Nonnarcotic methods of pain management. N. Engl. J. Med. 2019;380:2440–2448. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1807061.