Relaxation Exercises and Training After Cesarean SectionNCT07384637

Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises and Planned Training After Cesarean Section on Pain, Anxiety and Comfort

A study testing Progressive Relaxation Exercise group and Planned Education group in people with Relaxation Exercises and Training After Cesarean Section, run by Cumhuriyet University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record

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Trial summary

Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises and Planned Training after Cesarean Section on Pain, Anxiety and Comfort Read more about this study

Who is it for?: Ages 19 to 35 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for: Relaxation Exercises and Training After Cesarean Section
What is being tested?: Progressive Relaxation Exercise group and Planned Education group
Type of treatment: Vaccines, Lifestyle or therapy programme
Could I receive a placebo?: No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people: 129 participants
Where: 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates: 1 Jan 2023to 30 Dec 2023
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 19 to 35 years
Women only
Healthy volunteers accepted
Adult

Who may be able to join

on the first postoperative day,
at least four hours after analgesic administration,
mobilized,
with their baby present,
their baby without any health problems,
without any physical or mental illness,
without communication problems,
who volunteered to participate were included in the study.

Who cannot join

women who were not present on the first postoperative day,
had not received analgesic treatment for at least four hours,
were not mobile,
did not have their baby with them,
their baby had any health problems,
they had a physical or mental illness,
they had difficulty communicating,
they did not volunteer to participate were excluded from the study.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site

Sivas Cumhuriyet University
Sivas

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises and Planned Training after Cesarean Section on Pain, Anxiety and Comfort

Read the detailed description

The study consisted of a total of 129 women who underwent cesarean section (progressive relaxation exercise group: 43, planned training group: 43, control group: 43). Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale. Intergroup comparisons revealed statistically significant differences (p˂0.05) in the mean scores of the Visual Analog Scale, State Anxiety Inventory, Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale in the post-test after exercise and training for women in the exercise, training, and control groups. After progressive relaxation exercise and training, pain levels decreased in women in the exercise and training groups, anxiety levels decreased in women in the training group, and comfort levels increased in women in both the exercise and training groups.

Conditions: Relaxation Exercises and Training After Cesarean Section
Being tested: Progressive Relaxation Exercise group, Planned Education group
Keywords: Caesarean, Pain, Anxiety, Comfort, Exercise, Education
Medical subject headings: Pain, Anxiety Disorders, Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Progressive Relaxation Exercise groupBehavioural
On the first postoperative day, the women were met with, informed, and their written consent was obtained. Women in the Progressive Relaxation Exercise group who met the inclusion criteria were administered the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale via face-to-face interviews on the first postoperative day. Completing all forms took 15-20 minutes. Relaxation exercises began with breathing exercises, continued with muscle relaxation exercises, and lasted 30 minutes. In the final test phase, the Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale were repeated on the second postoperative day.
Planned Education groupBehavioural
On the first postoperative day, the women were met with, informed, and their written consent was obtained. Women in the Planned Education group who met the inclusion criteria were administered the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale via face-to-face interviews on the first day. Completing all forms took 15-20 minutes. The training was conducted face-to-face by the researcher for each woman, in accordance with adult education principles, and lasted 30-45 minutes.

Study groups in NCT07384637
Study group	Role	What they receive
Progressive Relaxation Exercises after Cesarean Section	Experimental	Progressive relaxation exercises began with breathing exercises, continued with muscle relaxation exercises, and lasted 30 minutes. Before starting the exercise, the environment was made quiet and free from external disturbances. The patient was also seated comfortably, and standard meditation music was played during the exercise. Progressive relaxation exercises combine the contraction and relaxation of large muscle groups such as the face, arms, legs, neck, and back with deep breathing. The exercises were performed by taking a deep breath, tensing the muscles, maintaining this tension for 5-7 seconds, and then relaxing the muscles (15-20 seconds). Throughout the exercise, the individual was instructed to continue breathing slowly and deeply through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. Receives: Behavioral: Progressive Relaxation Exercise group
Planned Training after Cesarean Section	Experimental	The training group received pre-planned training based on the literature. The training content included topics such as postpartum uterine changes, bleeding and vaginal discharge, elimination, sleep and rest, postpartum blues, medication use, initiation of sexual intercourse, timing of the resumption of menstruation, contraceptive methods, nutrition, breast care and breast problems, infant care, breastfeeding, and infant vaccinations. During the training, educational materials such as illustrated guides on family planning were used, and an educational brochure prepared by the researcher based on the literature was also given to the women after the training. The training was conducted face-to-face with each woman by the researcher, in accordance with adult education principles, and lasted 30-45 minutes. In addition, training methods such as lecturing, question-and-answer, discussion, brainstorming, and problem-solving were used during the training. Receives: Behavioral: Planned Education group
Standard of care Group	No intervention	The control group received no treatment. They only received standard hospital care procedures along with the Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale (pre-test, post-test).

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Visual Analog Scale
The scale is graded as 0-10 cm long, with 0=no pain, 10=the most severe pain. It is applied by the individual marking a point corresponding to the level of pain they feel. The distance between the determined point and the lowest part of the line is evaluated in centimeters. The value found indicates the patient's pain level.
Measured: baseline
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
The State Anxiety Inventory consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel at a specific moment under specific circumstances, taking into account their feelings about the situation. The Trait Anxiety Inventory also consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel in a given situation, regardless of the circumstances. High scores on both the State and Trait Anxiety Inventories indicate high anxiety levels, while low scores indicate low anxiety levels.The scale allows for scores ranging from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 80.
Measured: Baseline
Postpartum Comfort Scale
The Postpartum Comfort Scale assesses the physical, psychospiritual, and sociocultural comfort of women who have had both cesarean and vaginal deliveries. Physical and bodily perceptions constitute the physical comfort subscale. Spiritual and psychological components form the psychospiritual comfort subscale. Interpersonal, family, and social relationships, as well as components related to finances and support systems, constitute the sociocultural comfort subscale. The scale, which uses a five-point Likert scale, consists of 34 items. The lowest possible score is 34, and the highest is 170. Values close to 170 indicate a high level of comfort.
Measured: Baseline

Secondary outcomes (3)

Visual Analog Scale
The scale is graded as 0-10 cm long, with 0=no pain, 10=the most severe pain. It is applied by the individual marking a point corresponding to the level of pain they feel. The distance between the determined point and the lowest part of the line is evaluated in centimeters. The value found indicates the patient's pain level.
Measured: On the second postoperative day after a cesarean section
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
The State Anxiety Inventory consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel at a specific moment under specific circumstances, taking into account their feelings about the situation. The Trait Anxiety Inventory also consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel in a given situation, regardless of the circumstances. High scores on both the State and Trait Anxiety Inventories indicate high anxiety levels, while low scores indicate low anxiety levels.The scale allows for scores ranging from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 80.
Measured: On the second postoperative day after a cesarean section
Postpartum Comfort Scale
The Postpartum Comfort Scale assesses the physical, psychospiritual, and sociocultural comfort of women who have had both cesarean and vaginal deliveries. Physical and bodily perceptions constitute the physical comfort subscale. Spiritual and psychological components form the psychospiritual comfort subscale. Interpersonal, family, and social relationships, as well as components related to finances and support systems, constitute the sociocultural comfort subscale. The scale, which uses a five-point Likert scale, consists of 34 items. The lowest possible score is 34, and the highest is 170. Values close to 170 indicate a high level of comfort.
Measured: On the second postoperative day after a cesarean section

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

1 Jan 202330 Dec 2023

First posted3 Feb 2026
Study start1 Jan 2023
Primary completion30 Dec 2023
Study completion30 Dec 2023

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Other trials for Relaxation Exercises and Training After Cesarean SectionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase N/A
Primary purpose: Supportive care
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: None (open label)
Enrolment: 129 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07384637
Sponsor's protocol ID: TR SİVAS 07
Other IDs: SFF-2022-096
Status last verified: Jan 2023
First submitted: 27 Jan 2026
Last updated: 17 Feb 2026
Results posted: No
Data monitoring committee: Yes
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No
Individual data sharing: No

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises and Planned Training After Cesarean Section on Pain, Anxiety and Comfort
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07384637
Acronym / sponsor ID: TR SİVAS 07
Conditions: Relaxation Exercises and Training After Cesarean Section
Keywords: Caesarean, Pain, Anxiety, Comfort, Exercise, Education
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: Completed
Enrolment: 129 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: Cumhuriyet UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
Study start: 1 Jan 2023 (actual)
Primary completion: 30 Dec 2023 (actual)
Study completion: 30 Dec 2023 (actual)
First posted: 3 Feb 2026 (actual)
Results: Not posted in the source record

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Effects of Progressive Relaxation Exercises and Planned Training after Cesarean Section on Pain, Anxiety and Comfort

Detailed description

Study design

Primary purpose: Supportive care
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: None (open label)
Number of arms: 3

Arm	Type	Receives
Progressive Relaxation Exercises after Cesarean Section	Experimental	Behavioral: Progressive Relaxation Exercise groupProgressive relaxation exercises began with breathing exercises, continued with muscle relaxation exercises, and lasted 30 minutes. Before starting the exercise, the environment was made quiet and free from external disturbances. The patient was also seated comfortably, and standard meditation music was played during the exercise. Progressive relaxation exercises combine the contraction and relaxation of large muscle groups such as the face, arms, legs, neck, and back with deep breathing. The exercises were performed by taking a deep breath, tensing the muscles, maintaining this tension for 5-7 seconds, and then relaxing the muscles (15-20 seconds). Throughout the exercise, the individual was instructed to continue breathing slowly and deeply through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.
Planned Training after Cesarean Section	Experimental	Behavioral: Planned Education groupThe training group received pre-planned training based on the literature. The training content included topics such as postpartum uterine changes, bleeding and vaginal discharge, elimination, sleep and rest, postpartum blues, medication use, initiation of sexual intercourse, timing of the resumption of menstruation, contraceptive methods, nutrition, breast care and breast problems, infant care, breastfeeding, and infant vaccinations. During the training, educational materials such as illustrated guides on family planning were used, and an educational brochure prepared by the researcher based on the literature was also given to the women after the training. The training was conducted face-to-face with each woman by the researcher, in accordance with adult education principles, and lasted 30-45 minutes. In addition, training methods such as lecturing, question-and-answer, discussion, brainstorming, and problem-solving were used during the training.
Standard of care Group	No intervention	–The control group received no treatment. They only received standard hospital care procedures along with the Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale (pre-test, post-test).

Who may qualify

Ages: 19 to 35 years
Sex: Female only
Healthy volunteers: Accepted
Age groups: Adult

Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)

on the first postoperative day,
at least four hours after analgesic administration,
mobilized,
with their baby present,
their baby without any health problems,

Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)

women who were not present on the first postoperative day,
had not received analgesic treatment for at least four hours,
were not mobile,
did not have their baby with them,
their baby had any health problems,

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
Progressive Relaxation Exercise groupOn the first postoperative day, the women were met with, informed, and their written consent was obtained. Women in the Progressive Relaxation Exercise group who met the inclusion criteria were administered the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale via face-to-face interviews on the first postoperative day. Completing all forms took 15-20 minutes. Relaxation exercises began with breathing exercises, continued with muscle relaxation exercises, and lasted 30 minutes. In the final test phase, the Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale were repeated on the second postoperative day.	Behavioural	Progressive Relaxation Exercises after Cesarean Section
Planned Education groupOn the first postoperative day, the women were met with, informed, and their written consent was obtained. Women in the Planned Education group who met the inclusion criteria were administered the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Postpartum Comfort Scale via face-to-face interviews on the first day. Completing all forms took 15-20 minutes. The training was conducted face-to-face by the researcher for each woman, in accordance with adult education principles, and lasted 30-45 minutes.	Behavioural	Planned Training after Cesarean Section

Primary outcome

Visual Analog Scale
Time frame: baseline
The scale is graded as 0-10 cm long, with 0=no pain, 10=the most severe pain. It is applied by the individual marking a point corresponding to the level of pain they feel. The distance between the determined point and the lowest part of the line is evaluated in centimeters. The value found indicates the patient's pain level.
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Time frame: Baseline
The State Anxiety Inventory consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel at a specific moment under specific circumstances, taking into account their feelings about the situation. The Trait Anxiety Inventory also consists of 20 items and requires individuals to describe how they feel in a given situation, regardless of the circumstances. High scores on both the State and Trait Anxiety Inventories indicate high anxiety levels, while low scores indicate low anxiety levels.The scale allows for scores ranging from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 80.
Postpartum Comfort Scale
Time frame: Baseline
The Postpartum Comfort Scale assesses the physical, psychospiritual, and sociocultural comfort of women who have had both cesarean and vaginal deliveries. Physical and bodily perceptions constitute the physical comfort subscale. Spiritual and psychological components form the psychospiritual comfort subscale. Interpersonal, family, and social relationships, as well as components related to finances and support systems, constitute the sociocultural comfort subscale. The scale, which uses a five-point Likert scale, consists of 34 items. The lowest possible score is 34, and the highest is 170. Values close to 170 indicate a high level of comfort.

3 secondary outcomes

Visual Analog Scale
Time frame: On the second postoperative day after a cesarean section
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Time frame: On the second postoperative day after a cesarean section
Postpartum Comfort Scale
Time frame: On the second postoperative day after a cesarean section

Results and safety

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Feb 2026.
Individual participant dataSharing planned: No

Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

Sukran Ertekin Pinar, Prof. Dr. principal investigator

Cumhuriyet University

1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Visual Analog Scale (time frame: baseline). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07384637.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Feb 2026.