Effects of applied muscle tension on the likelihood of blood donor return

BACKGROUND: Blood donation–related symptoms such as dizziness and fainting are unpleasant for the donor and a significant disincentive for repeat donation. The muscle tensing technique of applied muscle tension reduced symptoms in several studies. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Follow‐up data from a randomized controlled trial of different components of applied tension were obtained. The number of subsequent blood donations in a 2‐year period was determined for 1059 of 1209 donors originally assigned to one of six conditions involving tension of different muscle groups or donation as usual. RESULTS: In general, women who were assigned to one of the applied tension conditions were significantly more likely to return than women assigned to the donation as usual condition (67% vs. 55%, χ2(1) = 4.71, p = 0.03). There was no significant enhancement of return among male donors. Also, there was no association between the actual reduction of symptoms in different applied tension conditions and higher levels of return. CONCLUSION: Participation in a condition that involved learning repeated muscle tension with the expectation that this might help reduce blood donation–related symptoms was associated with a greater likelihood of return for women.