Investigation of The Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique in Sedentary Obese Women

Pamukkale University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique

Treatments: Other: Control; Other: Music-Assisted Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07244718

E-60116787-020-481634

Details and patient eligibility

About

Obesity is a major public health problem that reduces quality of life and increases the risk of many chronic diseases. Its global prevalence continues to rise, and it is estimated that approximately 18 percent of men and 21 percent of women will be affected by the year 2025. The development and progression of obesity are influenced by individual characteristics such as age, lifestyle, and gender. Women experience hormonally driven changes in body fat across different life stages, including puberty, reproductive years, and the postpartum period, which place them at higher metabolic risk.

Progressive muscle relaxation, particularly when combined with music, has been shown to reduce sleep problems, emotional disturbances, fatigue, and limitations in quality of life across different clinical populations. However, the effectiveness of music-assisted progressive muscle relaxation in sedentary obese women has not been clearly demonstrated.

This study investigates whether a six-week, home-based music-assisted progressive muscle relaxation program can improve sleep quality, emotional well-being, fatigue, and health-related quality of life in sedentary obese women. The intervention can be performed independently in the participants' own living environment, which supports sustainability and enhances self-management. Demonstrating the effectiveness of this method may offer healthcare professionals a low-cost, accessible, non-pharmacological treatment option to improve both physical and emotional well-being in this high-risk population.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Female participants aged 18-50 years
• Classified as sedentary according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF)
• Obese, defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²
• Ability to understand written and spoken Turkish
• Ability to comprehend study instructions
• Active use of WhatsApp or Telegram to receive intervention materials

Exclusion criteria

• Cognitive impairment affecting communication
• Pregnancy, postpartum period, or lactation
• Use of weight-loss medications or sedative-hypnotic drugs
• Not having a regular menstruation cycle
• Hearing impairment

Criteria for Withdrawal:

• Voluntary withdrawal from the study
• Development of a condition preventing continuation of participation
• Failure to attend sessions regularly (missing more than two sessions per week)
• Incomplete final assessments

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Control group

Other group

Description:

Participants in the control group will not receive any therapeutic intervention during the study period. To equalize the time and attention provided to the intervention group, participants will be instructed to lie down in a comfortable position for twenty to thirty minutes once a day, before going to bed, for a total of six weeks, without performing any relaxation technique or physical activity. They will be asked to record each daily session in an activity log and will be instructed not to miss more than two sessions per week. Participants will also be asked to refrain from receiving any additional complementary or mind-body therapies that promote relaxation-such as acupuncture, massage, meditation, or other similar practices-throughout the study period. No restrictions will be placed on their usual daily routines or lifestyle habits. After completion of all assessments at the end of the study, participants in the control group will be provided with information about progressive m

Treatment:

Other: Control

Intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

At the beginning of the study, participants will be verbally informed about the progressive muscle relaxation technique, its method of application, and associated breathing techniques. Following this introductory session, twenty- to thirty-minute video and audio recordings prepared by the Turkish Psychologists Association, featuring music-assisted progressive muscle relaxation exercises, will be delivered to participants via a smartphone application. Participants will be instructed to follow the video and audio recordings once a day, before going to bed, for a period of six weeks. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled two weeks after the initial session to monitor participant compliance, answer questions, and reinforce proper technique. Participants will be asked to record each session in an activity log and will be instructed not to skip more than two sessions per week. In addition, they will be asked to refrain from receiving any complementary or relaxation-based therapies, such a

Treatment:

Other: Music-Assisted Progressive Muscle Relaxation