CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2024; 84(10): 962-968
DOI: 10.1055/a-2360-4380
GebFra Science
Original Article

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training During Pregnancy: Effects on Mental State, Delivery and Labour Pain – a Prospective Study

Progressives Muskelentspannungstraining in der Schwangerschaft: Auswirkungen auf psychischen Zustand, Entbindung und Wehenschmerzen – eine prospektive Studie
Friederike Weschenfelder 
1   Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39065)
,
Mehtap Bulgay-Mörschel
1   Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39065)
,
Wolf Lütje
2   Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Evangelisches Amalie Sieveking Krankenhaus, Hamburg, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN62581)
,
Ekkehard Schleußner
1   Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39065)
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Abstract

Introduction

Progressive muscle relaxation is a widely used technique for relaxation, but studies are rare about efficacy on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Aim of our study was to determine whether progressive muscle relaxation affects anxiety and depression levels of pregnant women, pregnancy outcomes, labour pain and analgesic requirements.

Materials and Methods

156 pregnant women were enrolled in a prospective non-randomized controlled cohort study. The control group received standard antenatal care and classes only, while the intervention group additionally received progressive muscle relaxation training once a week for six weeks. Anxiety, depression and current strain were measured in a pretest-posttest experimental design using self-report scales at baseline (1st survey), 5 weeks later (2nd survey) and during puerperium (3rd survey). Numeric Rating scales were used for measuring labour pain and satisfaction with analgesic treatment in the 3rd survey.

Results

Fifty complete questionnaires from each group were analysed. There were no differences in mental status between the groups at baseline. Progressive muscle relaxation training significantly reduced depression levels. Trait anxiety, reflecting a person’s basic anxiety decreased significantly in both groups during puerperium. No differences in pregnancy outcomes, labour pain and analgesic requirements could be shown within both groups in general. Nonetheless, women attending more than five progressive muscle relaxation courses reported significantly less labour pain within the group and compared to controls.

Conclusion

Pregnant women could benefit from progressive muscle relaxation training if used continuously. Relaxation methods should be a substantial part of prenatal care and available for everyone.

Zusammenfassung

Einleitung

Die progressive Muskelentspannung ist eine weitverbreitete Entspannungstechnik, aber es gibt nur wenige Studien zur Wirksamkeit dieser Technik in der Schwangerschaft und über die Auswirkungen auf das perinatale Outcome. Ziel unserer Studie war es, herauszufinden, wie sich die progressive Muskelentspannung auf das Ausmaß an Ängsten und Depressionen von schwangeren Frauen, das Schwangerschaftsoutcome, die Schmerzen während der Entbindung und den Schmerzmittelbedarf auswirkt.

Material und Methoden

Es wurden 156 schwangere Frauen in eine prospektive nicht randomisierte kontrollierte Kohortenstudie aufgenommen. Die Kontrollgruppe erhielt nur die Standard-Schwangerenvorsorge und Geburtsvorbereitungskurse, während die Interventionsgruppe zusätzlich 6 Wochen lang einmal in der Woche ein progressives Muskelentspannungstraining erhielt. Angst, Depression und aktuelle Belastung wurden in einem Prätest-Posttest-Versuchsdesign anhand von Selbstauskunftsskalen zu Beginn der Studie (1. Befragung), 5 Wochen später (2. Befragung) und im Wochenbett (3. Befragung) gemessen. Für die Messung der Wehenschmerzen und der Zufriedenheit mit Schmerzbehandlung wurden bei der 3. Befragung numerische Bewertungsskalen verwendet.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt wurden 50 komplett ausgefüllte Fragebogen von jeder Gruppe analysiert. Es gab keine Unterschiede im psychischen Zustand zwischen den Gruppen zu Beginn der Studie. Das progressive Muskelentspannungstraining hat die Depressionswerte signifikant verringert. Im Wochenbett nahm das Merkmal Trait-Angst, welches die grundlegende Ängstlichkeit einer Person widerspiegelt, in beiden Gruppen signifikant ab. Generell gab es keine Unterschiede im Schwangerschaftsoutcome, in den Wehenschmerzen und im Schmerzmittelbedarf innerhalb der beiden Gruppen. Aber die Frauen, die an mehr als 5 progressiven Muskelentspannungskursen teilgenommen hatten, berichteten, dass sie signifikant weniger Schmerzen während der Entbindung verspürten, verglichen mit anderen Frauen in ihrer Gruppe und mit der Kontrollgruppe.

Schlussfolgerung

Schwangere Frauen können von progressiver Muskelentspannungstraining profitieren, wenn es kontinuierlich eingesetzt wird. Entspannungsmethoden sollten ein wesentlicher Teil der Schwangerschaftsvorsorge sein und allen Frauen zugänglich sein.

Keywords

progressive relaxation - pregnancy - anxiety - depression - labour pain

Schlüsselwörter

progressive Entspannung - Schwangerschaft - Angst - Depression - Wehenschmerzen

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 22 March 2024

Accepted after revision: 29 June 2024

Article published online:
24 July 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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