Background: Fibromyalgia is accompanied by symptoms of fatigue, depression, sleep disorders, and physical and mental stress [1]. It is a difficult-to-treat disorder because its exact causes are unknown.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation therapy (PMRT) on pain, fatigue, and stress in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.
Methods: Thirty-seven patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (age: 20-65 years) were randomly allocated to the PMRT group (n1= 18, 2 men and 16 women) or non-PMRT group (n2= 19, 2 men and 17 women). The PMRT group received PMRT twice a week for 8 weeks and the non-PMRT group received conventional physical therapies such as electro-stimulation and heat therapies during this period. The outcome was evaluated before and after 8 week sofintervention using the Visual Analogue Scale, Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue, Perceived Stress Scale, and measurement of the blood pressure and pulse rate.
Results: Pain and fatigue significantly decreased in the PMRT group compared with the non-PMRT group (both P< 0.001). In addition, perceived stress (P< 0.001), systolic blood pressure (P< 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (P< 0.05), and pulse rate (P< 0.001) significantly decreased in the PMRT group compared with the non-PMRT group.
Conclusions: The findings indicate that progressive muscle relaxation therapy is a viable rehabilitative therapy for pain, fatigue, and stress symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.
Keywords: Fatigue; fibromyalgia; pain; progressive muscle relaxation therapy; stress.