Efficacy of Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomised Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on disease activity, anxiety, sleep quality and quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis. METHOD: This randomised, assessor-blinded, three-arm study was conducted in a university hospital in western Turkey between February and December 2022. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to three groups of 20: a progressive muscle relaxation group, a relaxing music group and a standard care group. The intervention groups received their respective therapies for 8 weeks, while the standard care group received routine treatment. Data were collected using instruments measuring disease activity, anxiety, sleep quality and quality of life. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used for comparisons. FINDINGS: There were improvements in the quality of life, anxiety and sleep quality in the progressive muscle relaxation group compared to the relaxing music and standard care groups. Although disease activity was evaluated, no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups. CONCLUSION: Progressive muscle relaxation, an affordable and easily applicable method, was found to be an effective nursing intervention for improving psychological and functional outcomes in patients with ulcerative colitis.