Effects of Classical Massage and Benson Relaxation Exercise on Heart Failure Patients

Randomized Controlled Trial of Classical Massage and Benson Relaxation Exercise for Patients With Heart Failure

Patients with heart failure will be entered. Participants will be randomized to one of three study arms: Arm 1: Classical massage, Arm 2: Relaxation, Arm 3: Control Hypothesis: Classical Massage and Benson Muscle Relaxation will decrease frequency, severity, discomfort of symptoms and improve quality of life.

Previous reports have revealed that classical massage and Benson relaxation exercise are promising for physiological parameters such as respiratory rate, pulse, blood pressure in heart failure patients. On the other hand, research examining effects of these approaches on physical symptom status that is including dyspnea, orthopnea, fatigue, chest pain, peripheral edema, sleep problems and dizziness and quality of life is limited. The present study investigates the effects of classical massage and Benson relaxation exercise in a single-site, 3-arm, randomized, controlled study of 96 patients with heart failure. Arm 1: Classical massage; Arm 2: Benson relaxation exercise; Arm 3: Control. The investigators hypothesize that Classical Massage and Benson relaxation exercise will decrease frequency, severity, discomfort of symptoms and improve quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being at least primary school graduates,
• Being over 18 years old
• Being diagnosed Stage III-IV with heart failure
• Not using any other complementary or integrative therapy during the study period

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having an additional disease such as advanced stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cancer
• Stage I-II diagnosed with heart failure
• Having an active thrombosis
• Having a coagulation problem
• Not volunteering to participate in the research
• Patients who have been hospitalized for 5 days or less and discharged before five days after the start of the application.