The effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation and interactive guided imagery as a pain-reducing intervention in advanced cancer patients: A multicentre randomised controlled non-pharmacological trial
Abstract
Background and purpose Interactive guided imagery (IGI) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) are complementary therapies with a recognised positive effect on cancer pain relief. This multicentre randomised controlled trial was designed to assess the adjuvant effect of PMR-IGI in alleviating pain in a sample of hospice patients with terminal cancer. Materials and methods A total of 104 patients were randomised to two groups. Group A patients (n = 53) were administered the Revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS-r) and the numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain immediately prior to (T1) and 2 h following an individual PMR-IGI session (T3). Group B patients (n = 51) received usual care and were assessed using the same tools. Acute pain episodes and rescue analgesics over the following 24 h were recorded. Results The Pain Intensity Difference (NRS at T3-NRS at T1) was 1.83 in group A and 0.55 in group B and was significant in both groups (p 0.05). Conclusion The results of this trial suggest that PMR-IGI may be considered as an effective adjuvant in alleviating pain-related distress in terminal cancer patients. Further studies should be performed to assess the effectiveness of repeated interventions.
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Evidence suggests potential benefits of PMR for people with advanced cancer, who reported significantly reduced pain intensity, distress, anxiety, and depression symptoms pre-post PMR.
“Evidence also suggests potential benefits, specifically of PMR, for people with advanced cancer, who reported significantly reduced pain intensity, distress, anxiety, and depression symptoms pre-post PMR (De Paolis et al. 2019).”
From Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory. (2023) · cites this paper as De Paolis et al. 2019
Cites
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Conceptual development of the immune system as a sixth sense
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Psychosocial and Integrative Oncology: Interventions Across the Disease Trajectory.
Carlson, L. E. (2023) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-032620-031757 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Luo, Y., Du, J., Wang, J., Liu, P., Shi, Z., He, Y., Che, G., Huang, K., & Wang, J. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1337318 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
- Authors
- De Paolis, G., Naccarato, A., Cibelli, F., D'Alete, A., Mastroianni, C., Surdo, L., Casale, G., & Magnani, C.
- Affiliations
- Roma Tre University (IT)
- Venue
- Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-02
- Volume
- 34
- Pages
- 280-287
- ISSN
- 1744-3881 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2908455676
- Cited by
- 89
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3
- FWCI
- 7.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Iris (Roma Tre University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Keywords
- progressive muscle relaxation, cancer pain, terminal cancer, hospice patients, non-pharmacological pain management, symptom distress, anxiety, depression, pain intensity, adjuvant therapy
- MeSH terms
- Autogenic Training, Humans, Neoplasms, Imagery, Psychotherapy, Pain Management
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