Table 4.

Brief or functional relaxation therapy instructions

Brief or functional relaxation therapy

The awareness that you will have to take your place in the dentist’s chair in a few minutes quite possibly provokes an unpleasant feeling over your body, leading to a hardening of your muscles. This tension may be relieved by the technique of functional relaxation. For this exercise, please try to feel your body more intensely. Please perform and repeat each sequence of movements as described for 2–3 seconds. Pause for a moment to register your body’s perception of changes from one sequence of movements to another. Try to assume a comfortable position in your seat, and perform only small, almost imperceptible, movements.

Instructions

Let your lower jaw fall loosely and move it easily from right to left for 3–5 seconds.

Move the joints of your head and neck smoothly so that your head nods slightly from one shoulder to the other for 3–5 seconds. Let gravity do the work. Do you notice a change in awareness of your neck?

For 3–5 seconds, move your relaxed shoulders in a circular motion in their joints in such a manner that another person would barely see your movements. Let gravity work for you.

Pay attention to your awareness of your body. Do you notice any variation?

Beginning with your backbone, move like a snake, loosely from side to side and from back to front for 3–5 seconds. Imagine that your chest is suspended from many flexible small joints. Let your ribs fall with gravity.

Feel the flexibility of your chest. Notice the sensation inside your chest.

Keep in touch with your body and be aware of your bodily experiences.

Notice your flexibility.

You do not need to worry about doing something wrong.