Muscle relaxation lowered pain scores in a fibromyalgia trial
People assigned to progressive muscle relaxation reported less pain, fear of movement and fibromyalgia impact than controls; the abstract does not show how large those differences were.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
In this randomized trial, progressive muscle relaxation improved pain scores, fear of movement and questionnaire-rated fibromyalgia impact compared with a control group. The results support a possible benefit for the people studied. The abstract does not show how large the changes were, whether they were noticeable in everyday life, or whether they lasted.
This abstract-based summary cannot assess the amount of benefit: effect sizes and confidence intervals are absent. Control care and follow-up beyond the program are also not described.
What researchers found
Pain on the Visual Analogue Scale
After 8 weeks, the relaxation group had lower mean pain scores than controls. The p-value describes statistical evidence for a difference, not the amount of pain relief. The score difference was not reported.
What the questionnaires measured
Researchers used a pain rating scale, a questionnaire about fear of movement, and a fibromyalgia impact questionnaire. Each measure favored the relaxation group, but the abstract provides no numerical score differences.
The population matters
The authors recommend relaxation more broadly for chronic pain, but this trial enrolled people with fibromyalgia. Its findings therefore concern that clinical group and do not establish benefits across other pain conditions.
The original publication
Are Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises Effective on Pain, Kinesiophobia, and Functional Status in Fibromyalgia Patients? A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Karakoyun A, Kütmeç Yilmaz C, Sayin Kasar K
Res Nurs Health · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41235733
- Record checked
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