Investigation of the Effects of Relaxation Exercises on Neuropathic Pain, Fatigue and Sleep Quality

Research Phases Preliminary Preparation

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the content and structure of previously published studies. Based on this review, the most suitable materials for the purpose of the present study were identified. Among these, the Progressive Relaxation Exercise Audio CD prepared by the Turkish Psychological Association was selected, and the necessary permissions were obtained for its inclusion in the research. Prior to data collection, official approval was obtained from both the hospital administration and the responsible physician of the Endocrinology Inpatient Unit at Erzurum Atatürk Training and Research Hospital.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a self-administered relaxation technique that involves the sequential tensing and releasing of sixteen major muscle groups in the body. During the exercise, deep breathing accompanies the commands to contract and relax each muscle group - muscles are tensed while inhaling and relaxed while exhaling. This method has been recognized as an effective intervention for reducing pain, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, incorporating mindful awareness of breathing has been shown to accelerate the relaxation response.

The steps of the Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercise are as follows:

Step 1: Begin with slow, deep, and rhythmic diaphragmatic breathing through the nose and out through the mouth. The abdomen should remain relaxed, and hands are placed on the lower abdomen to monitor diaphragmatic movement. The abdomen rises during inhalation and falls during exhalation. Chest movement should be minimized, as it may indicate insufficient diaphragmatic engagement.

Step 2: Breathing exercises start with exhalation lasting approximately twice as long as inhalation, a strategy known to promote general relaxation. After exhalation, a brief rest is taken before the next inhalation. Once slow and deep breathing has been repeated several times, participants proceed to the progressive muscle relaxation exercises.

Step 3: During PMR, the major muscle groups - including the feet, legs, hips, abdomen, chest, back, hands, arms, neck, shoulders, and facial muscles - are sequentially tensed while inhaling and relaxed while exhaling. After each muscle group, several deep diaphragmatic breaths are taken to allow short rest periods. At the end of the exercise, all muscle groups are tensed and relaxed simultaneously, and the session concludes with slow, deep breathing.

Implementation of the Study

Patients who met the inclusion criteria in the experimental group performed the Progressive Relaxation Exercises using the Progressive Relaxation Exercise CD in a calm environment, either in a seated or semi-seated comfortable position. The sessions were conducted in designated rooms within the Atatürk University Training and Research Hospital or in alternative suitable settings based on patient preference (such as their homes or nearby family health centers).

The exercises were supervised by the researcher twice a week, while on the remaining days participants performed the exercises independently by listening to the CD for 30 minutes daily over a period of six weeks. The duration and frequency of the sessions were determined by reviewing similar studies in the literature, which generally applied PMR once daily for 30-minute sessions over 6-8 weeks to address fatigue and sleep problems. Considering that the FACIT Fatigue Scale assesses fatigue over the past week and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) assesses sleep quality over the past four weeks, as well as the time required for participants to adapt to relaxation techniques, the six-week daily practice was deemed appropriate. No intervention was administered to the control group during this period.

Procedures Applied to the Experimental Group

Before initiating the intervention, nurses, physicians, and other healthcare personnel working in the Endocrinology Inpatient Unit of Erzurum Atatürk Training and Research Hospital were informed about the study.

All interviews and sessions were conducted in quiet, clean, and well-ventilated education rooms within the Endocrinology Unit or in nearby family health centers where participants could feel comfortable and safe. Depending on availability, participants were grouped into sessions of 2-5 individuals. In the initial session, participants received education on the concept, importance, purpose, benefits, and key considerations of relaxation. Correct breathing techniques - the first step of the relaxation process - were demonstrated and practiced.

Subsequently, participants were taught the definition, importance, and methods of performing Progressive Relaxation Exercises through demonstration and guided practice. Each participant was instructed individually by the researcher to ensure correct technique. The "Relaxation Exercise Audio Recordings" prepared by the Turkish Psychological Association were used as nursing intervention material.

The CD consists of three parts:

The first part explains the purpose of deep relaxation in a 10-minute session.

The second part provides a 30-minute guided relaxation exercise accompanied by water sounds and verbal instructions.

The third part includes 30 minutes of relaxation music only.

In this study, the second part of the CD was used. Before starting the exercise, participants were seated comfortably in a chair and informed that, at home, they could perform the exercise lying on a bed. Following the audio instructions, participants were guided to tense each muscle group while counting to five and then relax, inhaling deeply during tension and exhaling slowly during relaxation. This process was applied to the hands, arms, neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, hips, legs, feet, and facial muscles - sequentially from the hands to the feet - allowing full-body relaxation.

To enhance comfort and effectiveness, participants were advised to wear loose clothing and perform the exercises in a quiet setting. Each educational session lasted 30 minutes.

The exercises were performed twice weekly under supervision and daily at home for six weeks using the provided audio materials. Participants received instructions on how and when to practice at home and were shown how to use the recordings. They were also provided with the researcher's phone number for consultation when needed. A WhatsApp group was created to monitor adherence, with weekly phone calls and reminder messages sent to participants throughout the six-week period to encourage daily practice compliance.

This research was planned as a randomized controlled experimental study. The research will be conducted with Type 2 DM patients who apply to Erzurum Ataturk Education and Research Hospital Endocrinology Polyclinic/Inpatient Service. The universe of the research will consist of patients who apply to Erzurum Ataturk Education and Research Hospital Endocrinology Polyclinic/Inpatient Service and are followed up and diagnosed with Type 2 DM. The sample size of the research was calculated using the G*Power 3.1. 9.6 program. In the calculation, the 2-group (Experimental Group, Control Group) and 2-measurement (Pretest, Posttest) research design was taken into consideration and the sample calculation was made for the independent groups t-test. In the calculation, medium effect size (d = 0.50), 5% margin of error (α = 0.05) and 80% power (1-β = 0.80) were taken into account, and the sample number for each group was calculated as 40. Considering the possibility of data loss, the sample size for each group was increased by 10% and it was planned to include 44 people in each group, a total of 88 people in the sample. In collecting the research data; the Patient Identification Form prepared by the researcher with literature including the socio-demographic and disease-related characteristics of the patients and the patient's metabolic values, the S-LANSS Neuropathic Pain Scale to assess the neuropathic pain levels of diabetic individuals, the FACIT-Fatigue Scale to assess the fatigue levels of diabetic individuals and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PUKI) Scale to assess the sleep quality of diabetic patients will be used. The research data will be analyzed using the SPSS 26.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) program. Frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation values will be calculated in the evaluation of descriptive data. The significance level will be accepted as 0.05 (p < 0.05) in the analyses. The Shapiro Wilks test will be used for normal distribution. The mean scores of the scales used to evaluate neuropathic pain, fatigue, and sleep quality of the experimental and control groups will be compared between the groups using a t-test in independent groups, and the comparison of the mean pre-test and post-test scores within the group will be evaluated using a t-test in dependent groups.