The improvement of the transfer into daily life of progressive relaxation after an inpatient psychosomatic rehabilitation

• Published in: Die Rehabilitation Vol. 52; no. 5; p. 337
• Main Authors: Klosterhalfen, S, Welsch, K, Becker, N, Kraft, D, Köllner, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.10.2013
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - psychology; Female; Germany - epidemiology; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Middle Aged; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) - methods; Prevalence; Prognosis; Psychophysiologic Disorders - epidemiology; Psychophysiologic Disorders - psychology; Psychophysiologic Disorders - rehabilitation; Relaxation Therapy - psychology; Relaxation Therapy - utilization; Risk Factors; Self Care - utilization; Treatment Outcome; Germany
• ISSN: 1439-1309
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1331228

The aim of the current study was the identification of predictors for a successful transfer of progressive relaxation (PR) into clinical and daily life. Furthermore the development of tension-related symptoms dependening of the frequency of continuous practise was detected. 411 patients of a psychosomatic rehabilitation clinic attended a 6-h-course of progressive relaxation and were interviewed at 3 different times by a modified version of the "diagnostisches und evaluatives Instrumentarium für Entspannungstraining und Entspannungstherapie (ET-EVA)": at the beginning of therapy (T1), at discharge (T2) and 3 months after discharge by postal service (T3). After 3 months 274 patients (78.3%) sent the completed questionnaires back. The frequency of exercising by at least once a week was defined as successful. To detect the extent of symptom improvement, difference values between the different measuring times and effect sizes were calculated. To identify predictors of the frequency of daily practise, bivariate correlations and linear regression were used. 69.4% of the patients continued the exercises successfully beyond the course. The improved experience of relaxation directly after the program (r=-0.184; p<0.01) had a positive influence on the frequency of practising during hospital stay. 3 months after discharge 50.4% of the participants were practising at least once a week. The frequency of practise during hospital stay (r=0.558; p<0.01) and the experience of relaxation at T3 (r=-0.356; p<0.01) could be identified as predictors of a successful transfer into daily life of progressive relaxation. In the context of the linear regression the effect of the frequency of practise during hospital stay (Beta=0.506; p<0.01) and the experience of relaxation after 3 months (Beta=-0.275; p<0.01) remained significant predictors and explaines 40.9% of the variance. The items of all 6 symptom scales decreased significantly from T1 to T2 (p<0.01) and the feeling of discomfort after 3 months was significantly below the base level of T1 (p<0.01). The patients who practised at least once a week - compared to the not-practising patients - declared significantly less tension-related symptoms at T3 (p<0.01) and could achieve a significantly stronger change of wellbeing and relaxation experience at T2 and T3 (p<0.01). 50.4% of the patient implemented the relaxation training in their daily routine. The experienced alteration in terms of self-efficacy plays a meaningful role concerning the frequency of practise in hospital stay and daily routine. In future courses attention should be paid to the initial experience of relaxation. The frequency of practise once a week turned out to be the most effective.