Effects of progressive muscle relaxation on the life quality of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A clinical trial

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease with a profound effect on the life quality of the patients due to its chronic, painful, and disabling nature. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effects of progressive muscle relaxation technique on life quality in RA patients. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted in a rheumatologist office on 62 RA patients. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: progressive muscle relaxation group and control group. While the intervention group underwent a daily 20-minute relaxation period for 8 weeks, no intervention was given in the control group. Data were collected using a two part questionnaire including demographic characteristic form and SF-36 life quality questionnaire, completed at the beginning and the end of the intervention. Data analysed using Chi-square test, independent t-test and paired t-test with SPSS software version 19. Results: The findings of the study showed that, in the experimental group, the mean score of life quality changed from 37.84 to 54.54 after the intervention (p=0.0001), while, in the control group, it altered from 37.47 to 43.20. There fore, the difference between the two groups was not considered as significant before intervention (p=0.112). Moreover, there was a significant difference between experimental and control groups regarding the six aspects of life quality including physical function (p=0.041), vitality (p=0.029), social function (p=0.017), mental health (p=0.001), general health (p=0.002), and psychological health (p=0.002). However, no significant difference was found in case of bodily pain (p=0.149) and physical constraint (p=0.82). Conclusion: According to the findings, progressive muscle relaxation training could be an effective therapeutic method to improve quality of life in RA patients