The Effects of Relaxation Techniques on Pain, Fatigue and Kinesiophobia in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Three Arms Randomized Trial

CompletedNot a drug-phase studyRelapsing MSNCT04833673

What it found

Paper found, not read

A paper reports the results; we have not read it yet. See Papers below.

What was tested

Treatment tested

  • PMR: Progressive Muscle Relaxation
  • BRT:Benson Relaxation Technique

What it measured

Main measures

  • Fatigue

    12 weeks

    Fatigue

Other measures (2)

  • Chronic Pain

    12 weeks

    Pain
  • Kinesiophobia

    12 weeks

    Physical function

Who could take part

Relapsing MS · 18 and over

Show the full criteria

Inclusion criteria

* over the age of 18 * having relapsing-remitting MS type and not had an attack during the study * not receiving any other complementary and integrative therapy during the research, * with an Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 5.5 and below, * volunteer to participate in study

Exclusion criteria

* having physical or mental health problems that can interfere with communication * having heart failure, COPD, asthma disease, renal failure, musculoskeletal problem such as fracture, plaster cast, amputation, fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, deep anemia (hmg \<8 mg / dl) or oncological diagnoses * not having undergone any surgical operation in the last 3 months

As registered. Criteria can change, so ask the trial team or your neurologist.

About this trial

In the sponsor's words

Even though, current treatments including IVIG, corticosteroids, biological agents can provide positive effects on MS symptoms, MS cannot be cured completely today. Therefore, in addition to the available medical treatment options, patients may tend towards complementary and integrative therapies. Relaxation techniques are one of the non-pharmacological and side-effect-free therapy options that are currently used to alleviate the symptoms of many different chronic diseases. Progressive muscle relaxation exercise (PMR) and Benson relaxation technique (BRT) are two common types of relaxation techniques recommended for symptom management in chronic diseases owing to simple to learn and apply compared to other complementary and integrative methods for patients. PMR is uncomplicated and low-cost method, originally designed by Jacobson (1938), which helps individuals to feel calmer through consecutive muscle tension and relaxation of a muscle group. This method can relieve muscle tension, facilitate sleep, and reduce severity of pain and fatigue. There are studies in the literature reporting the positive effects of PMR on fatigue, sleep quality, quality of life, anxiety and stress in MS patients. One of these techniques which is well tolerated is BRT, designed by Herbert Benson in the 1970s as a nonpharmacologic and behavioral method. This technique led to relaxation using mental imagery and mediation. BRT creates a relaxation influence in the body by decreasing the sympathetic nervous system activity and increasing the parasympathetic nervous system activity. There are few studies in the literature reporting that BRT is beneficial on pain and fatigue in MS patients.To the best of our knowledge, there is no study on the impact of relaxation techniques on pain, fatigue and kinesophobia in MS patients. The aim of this study was to examine and compare the effects of PMR and BRT on abovementioned symptoms in MS patients.

Papers

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History

    1. Started

      Jun 2020

    2. Main results due

      Dec 2020

    3. Finished

      Mar 2021

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