Comparing two relaxation procedures to ease fatigue in multiple sclerosis: a single-blind randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Various relaxation techniques exist, but their comparative efficacy for MS fatigue and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is unclear.
• Biofeedback-supported relaxation exercises, specifically deep breathing (DB) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), were investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of DB and PMR on fatigue reduction in MS patients.
• To assess the impact of these relaxation techniques on ANS activity.
• To evaluate the utility of a fatigue-inducing vigilance task combined with heart rate variability (HRV) measurements.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind randomized clinical trial involving 34 MS patients.
• Assessment of cardiovagal integrity using HRV response to DB.
• Administration of a vigilance task followed by either DB or PMR, with fatigue and HRV measurements at baseline, post-task, and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Only PMR led to a significant reduction in short-term fatigue.
• Both DB and PMR influenced ANS activity.
• The vigilance task increased fatigue and decreased parasympathetic HRV; trait fatigue correlated negatively with HRV.

Conclusions:

• PMR is effective in alleviating short-term fatigue in individuals with MS.
• The vigilance task and HRV measurement paradigm can aid in evaluating fatigue-reduction interventions.
• Future research should explore longer, more frequent relaxation sessions, particularly for individuals with mild to moderate fatigue.