Evaluation of the Effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises on Fatigue and Sleep Quality in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Background and objectives: Fatigue and sleep problems are very commonly observed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique (PMRT), used as one of the alternative methods in recent years, is reported to have benefits such as facilitating sleep and reducing sensitivity against fatigue. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of PMRT on fatigue and sleep quality in patients with MS. Setting and design: This research was performed as a single-group pretest/post-test pretrial model. The research was conducted between March 2008 and December 2009 in the neurology polyclinic. Materials and methods: The study was conducted with 32 patients who met the research criteria and agreed to participate in the study. A Personal Information Form was used as a data collection tool, Fatigue Severity Scale was used for measuring fatigue, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used for evaluating the sleep quality. PMRT was applied to the sample group once a day for 6 weeks. Statistical analysis: Percentage, paired t-test, and Pearson's correlation analysis were used in the assessment of data. Results: It was determined that PMRT decreased patients' fatigue level and improved their sleep quality, and this difference was observed to be statistically significant. Moreover, patients' fatigue level increased as their sleep quality decreased. Conclusions: This study supports the effect of PMRT on fatigue and sleep quality in patients with MS, and it is recommended that further studies be conducted on this subject in the future.

The effectiveness of a self-management occupational therapy intervention on activity performance in individuals with multiple sclerosis-related fatigue: a randomized-controlled trial

“…This is the first study in MS using COPM as a (primary) outcome, but most of the energy conservation programs and relaxation techniques showed a reduction of fatigue (Dayapoğlu and Tan, 2012;Blikman et al, 2013). Energy conservation interventions all used a group format and were compared with wait list controls receiving no intervention.…”

Therapeutic Yoga: Symptom Management for Multiple Sclerosis

“…More recently, a growing number of individuals have turned to mind-body therapies-a specific exercise regimen including yoga, mediation, relaxation techniques, breath work, visual imagery, hypnotherapy, and biofeedback-to manage symptoms of MS. [27][28][29][30][31][32][33] For example, Yadav and colleagues 32 conducted a survey with 1110 patients with MS. Thirty-two percent reported both highly perceived psychological and physical benefits to using mind-body modalities, such as yoga, meditation, relaxation techniques, and breathing. In another study, Nayek et al 30 gathered data from 11,600 individuals with MS and found that 57.1% of the responding sample had used at least one form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), citing a general preference for alternative mind-body therapies.…”

The effect of sleep hygiene education and relaxation exercises on insomnia among postmenopausal women: A randomized clinical trial

“…It is intended to help individuals calm down, and fall asleep easily. PMR is a basic relaxation technique that is easy to learn (Dayapoğlu, ; Yung, Fung, Chan, & Lau, ). It comprises of deliberate contraction and relaxation of a group of large muscles in the human body.…”