Effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises and TENS on Women Delivering Via Cesarean
Condition: Cesarean Section; Acute Pain
MeSH terms: Acute Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study aimed to determine the effect of progressive relaxation exercises and
      transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation administered to women delivering via cesarean
      section on acute pain, breastfeeding behavior, and comfort levels. Single-Blind, Randomized
      Controlled Study. This study was carried out in the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a
      university hospital affiliated with the Ministry of Health in Turkey between August 20, 2018
      and April 15, 2019. A total of 120 participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups,
      which included a transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) group, a progressive
      relaxation exercises (PRE) group, a combined intervention (TENS+PRE) group, and a control
      group. Data were collected with a data collection form, the visual analogue scale (VAS), the
      LATCH breastfeeding diagnostic tool (LATCH), and the postpartum comfort scale (PCS). In the
      analysis of the data, numbers, percentages, and chi-square tests were used. Also, median
      values, Wilcoxon Signed-rank test, and Kruskal-Wallis H test were employed for continuous
      variables.
    


Intervention name(s): Transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS); Progressive relaxation exercises (PRE); Transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) and Progressive relaxation exercises (PRE)
Intervention type(s): Device; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): The TENS group: TENS application was implemented by the researchers in the patient room. The conventional TENS application took 30 minutes per session. The application continued until frequency reached 100 Hz, the pulse width reached 100 μs, and the current impedance reached a point where the women felt needling or tingling according to their tolerance. Before the application, the women were asked to lie in a supine position, and the area/skin where TENS would be applied was cleaned and dried. Two electrodes of TENS were placed 2 cm above the cesarean incision, and the other two electrodes 2 cm below the incision. The women were allowed to rest during the application, and they were accompanied by the researcher. A total of five TENS sessions, including two at four-hour intervals on the first day and three at eight-hour intervals on the second day, were held.; The PRE group: The PRE application was implemented in the patient room. A quiet and calm environment was prepared in the room for the intervention. The PRE application was implemented by the women under the researchers' instructions. Each session lasted 30 minutes. A total of five sessions, including two at four-hour intervals on the first day and three at eight-hour intervals on the second day, were held. The PRE application includes exercises based on stretching and then the relaxation of different muscle groups, accompanied by deep breathing. The exercises were carried out in the following way: First doing a deep breathing exercise and then stretching all the muscles from feet to face accompanied by breathing in, keeping the breath, and finally relaxing the muscles by breathing out at the same time.; The TENS+PRE group: The PRE and TENS applications were carried out together in this group. The administration of the interventions was the same as in groups where only TENS and only PRE applications were carried out. In this group, first, a 30-minute PRE application was implemented, which was followed by a 30-minute-TENS application.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: cesarean section; pain; breastfeeding; comfort; muscle relaxation; transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation