The effect of progressive relaxation exercises on abdominal pain and distension in colonoscopy patients

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the effect of progressive relaxation exercises on abdominal pain and distension in colonoscopy patients. Material and Method: The research was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental research model. With power analysis, the research was completed with 90 patients, 45 experiments and 45 controls. The data were collected with Patient Information Form and VAS between December 2019-August 2020. The experimental group was informed about progressive relaxation exercises (PGE), PGE audio recording was given to them. After colonoscopy, abdominal pain (VAS pain) and distension (VAS distension) scores were determined, then PGE was applied for 30 minutes. After exercise, these scores were determined again. VAS pain and VAS distension scores of the control group were determined after colonoscopy and 30 minutes later. VAS form was given to all patients to determine VAS abdominal pain and VAS distension scores at the 2nd,4th,8th, 12th, 16th and 24th hours after the procedure. The day after the colonoscopy,post test data were collected. Percentage distribution, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, chi-square, Mann Whitney U, ANOVA, and Friedman test were used for data analysis. Results: The pre-test VAS pain and VAS distension mean scores were similar in the experimental and control groups, and the difference between them was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Post test of the experimental group, it was observed that the mean VAS pain and VAS distension scores decreased significantly compared to the control group averages (p<0.05). Conclusion: PGE after colonoscopy were determined that effective in reducing abdominal pain and distension.