Effect of applying progressive muscle relaxation technique on fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients

Fatigue is the most frequent and disabling symptom in 92% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Fatigue interferes with daily functioning and prevents sustained physical exertion, limits work and social role performance, and is related to lower quality of their life. Complementary therapies are widely used in treatment of people with MS and Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique (PMRT) is a form of complementary therapies. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of applying PMRT on fatigue in MS patients.

In this Quasi-experimental study, a total of 66 MS patients were selected with convenient sampling according to specific criteria and then were divided randomly into two groups of experimental and control (33 patients in each group). PMR performed for 63 sessions on experimental group during two months but no intervention was done for control group. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Self report checklists. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software and use of paired-t test, student-t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation between variables.

Student t-test showed that there was no significant difference between two groups in mean scores of fatigue before the study but this test showed significant difference between the two groups, one month (4.69±1.03 and 5.43±0.96, P<0.01) and two months (4.09±1.06 and 5.43±1.08, P<0.001) after intervention, respectively. ANOVA test with repeated measurements showed that there is a significant difference in mean score fatigue between two groups in 3 times (P<0.01).

The results of this study showed that PMR is practically feasible and could decrease fatigue of MS patients, so that applying this technique offered to these patients.