Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Pain and Fatigue among Post Cardiac Surgery Patients

Abstract

Pain and fatigue are common complications after cardiac surgery. All of these factors may compromise treatment and quality of life following surgery; therefore, decreasing pain and fatigue scales may improve outcomes after surgery. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) therapy is considered one of the alternative therapies used for reducing pain and fatigue among cardiac surgery patients. So the study was aimed to assess the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on pain and fatigue among post cardiac surgery patients. Design: A quasi-experimental research design with a pretest-posttest was used. Setting: The study was applied in Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at the Chest Hospital in Mansoura. Subjects: A purposive sample of 60 adult patients who are undergoing cardiac surgery. Three tools used for data collection are Tool (I): A structured interview questionnaire, Tool (II): A modified Behavioral Pain Scale, and Tool (III): Fatigue assessment scale. Results: No statistically significant differences were noticed between both study and control groups about their all demographic characteristics and their surgical history. Results of the present study revealed that statistically significant differences were detected between the study and control groups regarding their behavioral responses to pain post-intervention. A significant reduction of fatigue scores in the study group as compared to the control group one day post-intervention (p = 0.0001) as well as five days post-intervention after surgery (p = 0.0001).Conclusion: Progressive muscle relaxation technique had a positive effect in reducing postoperative pain and fatigue among patients after cardiac surgery. Recommendations: progressive muscle relaxation techniques should be integrated into the rehabilitation programs provided to cardiac surgery patients.