Randomised trial, 2018
Does progressive muscular relaxation help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?
Progressive muscular relaxation helped reduce leg cramps and irritability. However, the control group also improved without treatment, so it is unclear how much the relaxation itself helped.
What they did
Sixty women were randomly assigned to either progressive muscular relaxation therapy (tensing and slowly releasing muscles) or no treatment. Researchers measured PMS symptoms using a pain scale.
What they found
The relaxation group showed significant improvements in leg cramps and irritability. The control group also showed significant improvements in irritability and crying spells even though they had no treatment.
What it means for you
Relaxation therapy may help some PMS symptoms. Since the control group also improved, it is unclear if the relaxation itself or just paying attention to symptoms caused the improvement. This was a small study with limited details.
60
women in the study
2
groups (treatment and control)
About the study
- Original title
- EFFECT OF PMR ON SOMATIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS OF PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME
- Authors
- Veena V. Jasuja, Jayant Makwana, Ebbie Thomas
- Journal
- Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Progressive muscular relaxation therapy
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.18410/jebmh/2018/713
Topics
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