NCT06013280

The Effect of Relaxation Techniques on Earthquake Survivors

The Effect of Relaxation and Breathing Exercise on Post-Earthquake Stress Related Symptoms

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 46 (actual)
• Sponsor: Istanbul Medipol University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 25 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of relaxation and breathing exercises on individuals experiencing post-earthquake stress-related symptoms.

Detailed description

Earthquakes negatively affect survivors both physically and psychologically. Early psychological symptoms after disasters are considered normal responses to an abnormal event. Therefore, it is not unexpected to feel very intense negative emotions after such traumas. However, the chronicity of these negative emotions puts the lives of individuals at risk. Mental problems such as stress, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety are seen at high levels among earthquake survivors. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of relaxation and breathing exercises applied to earthquake survivors who experienced post-earthquake stress-related symptoms. There are two gropus: relaxing exercise group and control group. Relaxing and breathing exercise protocol is only for relaxing exercise group. A protocol consisting of 40 minutes of progressive muscle relaxation exercise and breathing exercises, 3 times a week for 4 weeks, was planned. Control group participants were asked to continue their daily lives. Evaluations were made before and 4 weeks after the intervention and stress-related symptoms were measured.

Conditions

• Earthquake
• Mental Health Issue

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Progresive Muscle Relaxation and Breathing Exercise	Intervention protocol contains 40 minuntes sessions, which involved tensing and relaxing the body along with deep breathing. Protocol consisted with; Warm-up (5 minutes breathing exercise) Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises (The participants performed PMR for each body part in a particular order, beginning with the face muscles and head, followed by neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, legs, and feet. This muscle tensing and relaxing procedures were performed in accompaniment with deep breathing.) Cool-down (5 minutes breathing exercise)

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-03-20
• Primary completion: 2023-06-25
• Completion: 2023-06-25
• First posted: 2023-08-28
• Last updated: 2023-08-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)