Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Sleep Quality: A Literature Review Download PDF

Background and Objective: Sleep disturbance is a common complaint in patients with chronic disease. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), used as a non-pharmaceutical approach in ameliorating the sleep quality. The aim of this study was to present a comprehensive literature review describing the effect of PMR on sleep quality. 

Materials and Methods: Literature review was undertaken using the international databases including Pub Med/Medline, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Also, Persian electronic databases such as Magiran, SID and IranMedex were searched up to April 2017. The search was limited to articles in the English and Persian languages that evaluate the effect of Progressive muscle relaxation on sleep quality. 

Results: It seems PMR has been able to reduce the global score of patients' sleep quality but hasn't been able to reach sleep quality at a normal range (PSQI<5).In addition, in some studies, only a few components of the sleep quality were improved.

Conclusion: an Educational intervention using PMR by nurses may improve sleep quality.