Effect of breathing-controlled relaxation exercises on pain, sleep quality and stress in police speci̇al forces

This study was conducted to examine the effects of respiratory controlled relaxation exercises on pain, sleep quality and stress applied to Special Operations Police. The study included 57 male individuals between the ages of 20 and 60. Individuals were divided into two groups: exercise (n=27) and control (n=27). The control group was only informed about breathing controlled relaxation exercises and no intervention was made. The exercise group underwent respiratory controlled relaxation exercises accompanied by a physiotherapist for 6 Weeks, 2 days a week. Individuals were assessed for pain, sleep quality and stress. The Vizuel Analog scale (VAS) and Mcgill Pain Scale (MPQ) were used to assess pain, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PUKI) was used to assess sleep quality, and the Beck Depression Scale (BDS) was used to assess stress. Assessments were made twice to all individuals, before and after the study. As a result of the study, it was observed that pain decreased, sleep quality increased and stress decreased compared to the first and last assessments of the exercise group (p<0.05). Compared to the first and last assessments of the control group, there was an increase in pain, a decrease in sleep quality, and an increase in stress levels. A significant decrease in intergroup VAS, MPQ, PUKI and BDS values was found in favor of the exercise group (p<0.05). Looking at the presence of pain by region, it was observed that the most pain is in the lumbar region (%63.0). As a result, breathing-controlled relaxation exercises were found to reduce pain, improve sleep quality and reduce stress levels in Special Operations Police (p<0,05). With this study, it was determined that it would be useful to add respiratory controlled relaxation exercises to personnel training in Special Operations Police. We believe that there should be extensive research on pain in the Special Operations Police and research on low back pain in particular.