The effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation technique in reducing cancer-related pain among palliative care patients: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose Cancer-related pain (CRP) is a common and distressing symptom experienced by many patients receiving palliative care. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of the progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) technique in reducing CRP in patients receiving palliative care. Methods A total of 148 patients diagnosed with cancer and receiving palliative care were randomly allocated to either an intervention or control group. The intervention group received a 4-week daily course of PMR technique, while the control group received only usual care. Data was collected using a demographic and clinical characteristics form, as well as the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Blind evaluations were conducted prior to the start of the intervention (T0), at the end of the 4-week PMR intervention (T1), and at 1-month follow-up (T2). Results The results of this trial demonstrated a significant decrease in pain intensity scores for the PMR group compared to the control group at both T1 and T2 ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, the PMR group also exhibited significant improvements in pain interference with general activity, mood, relations with others, sleep, and enjoyment of life scores compared to the control group at both T1 and T2 ( p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of this trial suggest that the PMR technique may be an effective intervention for reducing pain intensity and improving pain interference with life activities in cancer patients receiving palliative care. However, further research is needed to provide more robust evidence for the effectiveness of this intervention. Clinical trial registration number: NCT04436705. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov

A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the progressive muscle relaxation technique in hip fracture patients

“…The first hypothesis, namely that the PMR technique can be employed to reduce POP levels, has been corroborated. The findings of Anshasi et al 13 , are in accordance with the results of this study, which demonstrate that the PMR technique can significantly reduce the intensity of cancer-related pain in patients receiving palliative care, both immediately and one month after the intervention. The findings of another study indicated that the PMR technique is an effective method for alleviating pain and abdominal distension in patients who have undergone colonoscopy 28 .…”

“…Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is the most readily accessible and prescribed technique for inducing physical and mental relaxation 12 . This technique is associated with breathing exercises and includes the tension and relaxation of different groups of skeletal muscles 13 . The relaxation that occurs during PMR has been shown to reduce anxiety, release muscle tension, regulate neuromuscular activity, and reduce various forms of pain sensation by blocking the transmission of pain stimuli and changing pain perception 12 .…”