Article published by AJMC
A study on the effects of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) exercises in patients with epilepsy found a significant decrease in depressive symptoms, improved sleep, and improved quality of life.
“Progressive muscle relaxation exercise enables individuals to feel the difference between tension and relaxedness and teaches individuals to relax on their own,” wrote the authors of this study. “It also provides relaxation and peace while reducing physical and emotional tension.”
This randomized controlled intervention study was published in Seizure – European Journal of Epilepsy.
The study included a total of 70 participants diagnosed with epilepsy. The participants were divided into control and intervention groups between November 1, 2022, and April 15, 2022. The patients in the intervention group underwent 12 PMR exercise sessions, 3 days a week, for 4 weeks.
PMR exercises are mind-body practices that create relaxation through regular and voluntary relaxation of large muscles, with many benefits such as improving mental and physical states of stress, pain, and fatigue.