
Guided Tension Release for Pain, Stress, and Muscle Recovery
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a clinically validated technique used across physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech-language pathology (SLP) to help patients reduce muscle tension, lower stress levels, and improve body awareness.
Developed by Edmund Jacobson in the 1920s, PMR trains individuals to consciously recognize and control patterns of muscular tension, often linked to pain, anxiety, neurological injury, or postural dysfunction.
In XR, PMR takes on new depth. By combining verbal guidance with immersive environments and spatial audio, Breathe XR helps patients tune out external distractions and focus fully on each muscle group as they tense and release.
Why PMR Matters in Rehabilitation
PMR works by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing cortisol levels, lowering heart rate, and promoting physiological relaxation. Through deliberate cycles of muscle contraction and release, patients learn to recognize areas of tension and improve neuromuscular control.
Patients can choose from three calming, sensory-rich settings that help reinforce the feeling of psychological “escape” from stressors:
Space: A quiet deck on a space station, overlooking a distant planet
Villa: A sunlit Southwestern villa, looking out onto a peaceful courtyard
River: A snow-covered riverbank, with Northern lights illuminating the sky
Three Immersive Environments
Reduced Anxiety and Muscle Tension:
A meta-analysis in the Journal of Health Psychology (Manzoni et al., 2008) confirmed PMR’s effectiveness in reducing anxiety, blood pressure, and muscular tension across clinical populations.
Improved Pain Tolerance and Functional Mobility:
PMR has been shown to enhance pain tolerance and increase mobility in patients with musculoskeletal disorders (American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2016).Enhanced ADLs Post-Stroke:
When combined with conventional PT and OT, PMR was linked to improved Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) in stroke survivors (Disability and Rehabilitation, 2014).XR-Based Relaxation Response:
A 2020 study in JMIR Mental Health found that PMR delivered through VR produced stronger relaxation outcomes than traditional audio-only formats.Physiological Downregulation in XR:
Frontiers in Psychology (2021) reported that immersive environments help lower heart rate, reduce anxiety symptoms, and improve subjective well-being, even with minimal user training.
Clinical Research Support
Deployment Options
PMR is available for clinics and healthcare organizations managing XR devices through ArborXR, ManageXR, or other MDM platforms.
It can be licensed as a standalone app or as part of The Relief Suite, which also includes Breathe XR and Soundscape Distraction.
Note: PMR will be available on the Meta Quest Store in August