A Study on the Effect of Relaxation Techniques and Shavasana on Stress and Pulse Rates of Medical Students

Medical education is perceived as being
stressful and a high level of stress may
have a negative effect on cognitive
functioning and learning of students in
medical school. The present study was
aimed at comparing the efficacy of two
relaxation techniques on medical students
and also to study the effects of the
Jacobson’s technique of relaxation and
Shavasana on pulse rate & stress levels in
Medical students. 90 medical students
were selected and randomly assigned to
three groups (N=30 each) Group A
receiving Jacobson’s Technique of
relaxation, Group B receiving Shavasana
and Group C control. The stress level was
determined using Perceived Stress Scale.
Pulse rate was measured before and after
training of 1 month (sessions twice a
week) and home programme of the same
technique daily was asked to be followed
for one month. Results indicate that both
the techniques are significantly effective
in inducing relaxation but objectively, on
comparison of both techniques,
Shavasana was observed to bring
enhanced decrease in pulse rate & stress
levels than Jacobson’s technique of
relaxation.