Investigation of the effect of progressive muscle relaxation technique accompanied by music on sleep, mood, fatigue and quality of life in sedentary obese women

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of progressive muscle relaxation technique applied with music on sleep, mood, fatigue and quality of life in sedentary obese women. The study was conducted on 20 sedentary obese women who applied to Pamukkale University Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and met the inclusion criteria. The participants were divided into intervention (n=10) and control (n=10) groups by computerised randomisation method. The intervention group performed progressive muscle relaxation technique with music for 20–30 minutes at night before sleep, over a 6-week period. The control group was instructed to recline and remain motionless for the same duration and period. Evaluations were performed at baseline and at the end of the 6th week. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale; mood was evaluated with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21); fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale and Chalder Fatigue Scale; and quality of life was measured with the Nottingham Health Profile. In the intervention group, significant improvements were observed in total scores of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (p=0.005), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (p=0.027), depression (p=0.020), anxiety (p=0.007), and stress (p=0.011) subscales of the DASS-21, Fatigue Severity Scale (p=0.047), likert (p=0.007) and bimodal (p=0.012) total scores of the Chalder Fatigue Scale, as well as in the pain (p=0.021), emotional reactions (p=0.022), sleep dimensions (p=0.017), and first section scores (p=0.011) of the Nottingham Health Profile. In the control group, significant deteriorations were detected in the sleep disturbance subcomponent of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (p=0.025), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (p=0.006), likert total score of the Chalder Fatigue Scale (p=0.008), and energy dimension of the Nottingham Health Profile (p=0.042). The findings of this study indicate that progressive muscle relaxation in conjunction with music constitutes an effective method of improving sleep, mood, reducing fatigue, and enhancing quality of life among sedentary obese women.