Evaluating the Effectiveness of Using a Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique in Reducing the Pain of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract Objective: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological disease that affects all financial, social and emotional aspects of individuals, families, and society in general. The pain caused by this disease can have devastating effects on patients and their careers, and thus the quality of their lives. This study aimed at verifying the level of pain in multiple sclerosis [MS] patients before and after the application of a progressive muscle relaxation technique [PMRT]. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial study, 70 MS patients were randomly allocated into two groups of 35 patients each. The experimental group received PMRT training for 3 months in 90 sessions, whereas the control group did not. Current pain was evaluated using self-reported questionnaires before and after the intervention. After 3 months, a questionnaire was completed by subjects in both the experimental and control groups. The data were then analyzed through inferential statistical tests. Results: The independent t test indicated that there was no significant difference in the amount of subjective pain perceived by experimental and control groups before the intervention [p > 0.05], while the same test showed a significant difference in the pain experienced following the intervention [p = 0.001]. The paired t test within groups also showed a significant reduction in the pain perceived by the patients in the experimental group 3 months after the intervention [p = 0.001], while no significant difference was seen in the amount of pain experienced by patients in the control group [p > 0.05]. There were no adverse events. Conclusion: The progressive muscle relaxation technique used in this study is practical, feasible and inexpensive with no side effects