Effectiveness of Autogenic Relaxation Training as an Adjunct to Usual Physiotherapy in Enhancing Emotional Well-Being and Functional Independence in Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Background: Regular participation in stroke rehabilitation sessions and adherence to prescribed physical activities are crucial, however, emotional imbalances often act as barriers, resulting in low adherence among stroke survivors. The autogenic relaxation technique (ART) has shown positive effects in various conditions but remains underexplored in the stroke population. Objective: This experimental study evaluated the outcomes of ART in addition to usual physiotherapy for stroke survivors in improving emotional wellbeing and enhancing patients’ commitment to physical activity and functional independence. Methodology: Sixty-six participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group using stratified block randomization. Experimental group participants received 20 minutes of ART followed by 40 minutes of usual physiotherapy, and the control group received 60 minutes of usual physiotherapy. The 12-week program involved three 1-hour sessions per week (one supervised and two non-supervised). Intervention outcomes were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for Anxiety (HADS), the Recovery Locus of Control (RLOC) Scale for perceived control and beliefs about health, and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) for functional independence. Intervention effects were analyzed using mixed-model analysis of variance. Changes in the outcome measures were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: After the 12-week intervention, there were significant time and group effects for all outcomes (p < 0.01), with significant reductions in participants’ HADS–Anxiety (p = 0.001) and HADS-Depression (p = 0.001) scores, and improvement in RLOC (p = 0.016) and MBI (p = 0.007) scores. Conclusion: These findings highlight the effectiveness of ART as a non-intimidating and readily accessible strategy with wide-ranging benefits for stroke survivors.