Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Pain and Sleep: Randomized Controlled Study

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) on postoperative pain level and sleep quality in patients undergoing open heart surgery.

A single center, two-group, single-blind randomized controlled trial.

This study comprised 60 patients who were admitted to the cardiovascular surgery department and undergoing open heart surgery between January 2023 and April 2024. Patients were randomized into 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Data were collected using Patient Identification Form, Short-form of McGill's Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). PMR were applied twice a day, morning and evening, on the post-operative days 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days to experimental group. Before and after PMR, the patients' pain level and sleep quality were evaluated. The control group received usual care and treatment.

In the experimental group, pain level decreased significantly from 9.36 points on the 1st day to 1.50 points on the 3rd day in the post-operative service (p < .001). In the control group, pain level decreased only to 6.13 points on the 3rd day. It was determined that sleep quality gradually increased in the experimental group and reached 545.83 points on the 3rd day in the post-operative service. In the control group, it increased only to 330.16 points. A significant difference was found pain level and sleep quality in all measurements between the experimental and control groups.

In this study, it was suggested that progressive muscle relaxation reduces pain and improves sleep quality in patients undergoing open heart surgery. It is recommended that nurses include progressive muscle relaxation in postoperative pain control and sleep management in usual care.