The effect of progressive muscle relaxation program on chronic low back pain and living daily activities in patients with intervertebral disc: a randomized clinical trial

The most important cause of low back pain is intervertebral disc. The most common symptom of this disease is pain, which causes decrease in living daily activities. Today, many non-pharmacologic methods of pain relief have been offered. This study has been done to study the effect of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on pain level and living daily activities in patients with intervertebral discs. In this randomized clinical trial, 56 patients with lumbar intervertebral discs were enrolled by convenient sampling and randomized to two groups of test (n=28) and control (n=28). The PMR program was trained to patients in test group within seven theoretical and practical sessions with emphasis on 14 muscle groups. The questionnaire of pain intensity scale and living daily activities was completed prior to, and one month and three months after intervention in two groups. All 56 patients cooperated to the end of study. PMR program caused decrease in mean pain intensity and increase in domains of living daily activities in test group after three months of intervention compared with prior to intervention (P<0.001). Also, statistical test of repeated measures ANOVA indicates a significant difference in three times of pain level measurement and total score and score of domains of living daily activities in test group (P<0.001). In control group, these differences were not significant (P>0.05). In view of the findings of this study, PMR program is considerably effective on reducing chronic low back pain and increasing living daily activities in patients with intervertebral disc. Applying this program is recommended for decreasing chronic low back pain and increasing living daily activities in patients with intervertebral disc.