The Department of Health’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Team within the Occupational Therapy Service has released a CD of relaxation techniques for use by patients undergoing cardiac treatment.
 
The CD, recorded by Dave Armstrong of DAM and produced by Duke Videos, teaches patients and their families to recognise and alleviate stress by providing them with some ‘taster’ techniques such as progressive muscular relaxation, passive muscular relaxation, visualisation, and breathing techniques.  The CD comes with a booklet which explains the benefits of relaxation, as well as providing some more information about each of the techniques.
 
The idea to produce the CD was arrived at after patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation had approached members of the Occupational Therapy team, suggesting that the techniques taught at the treatment sessions should be recorded for them to use at home and also to benefit other patients, or anyone in need of a structured guide to relieving stress.  The CD will also be used by the Rheumatology Department for their patients, to reduce stress and improve pain symptoms.  There is evidence that guided relaxation can reduce reliance on medication, alcohol and cigarettes, improve sleep patterns, reduce blood pressure and help with pain management.  There are plans to produce a second CD which will focus specifically on visualisation techniques. 
 
Bev Critchlow, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Therapies, said: “I would like to congratulate the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team for producing this CD.  At Noble’s Hospital, we are always striving to find new and innovative ways of improving our patient care and the patient experience both within the hospital and after discharge.  We are always pleased when patients suggest how we can improve things for them, and where possible we will put these suggestions into practice.”
 
Julie Alanachmead Occupational Therapist, Cardiac Rehabilitation Service said: “This CD is a very exciting development.  Both patients and their families will benefit from having these techniques available to use whenever they need them, and in the comfort of their own homes.  It has taken a little bit of time to bring everything together, and I would like to thank the external agencies for all their help with making this project a reality.”