SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF DEEP BREATHING AND PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION EXERCISES ON MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN AND WELL-BEING IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

By the WHO and ICMJE for Studies With a Study Start Date That is Before June 1, 2024

Exam stress in high school students, long hours of studying in the static posture, and lack of physical activity habits can cause physical and psychological discomfort in them. This discomfort can be physically seen as musculoskeletal pain, while as psychologically it can be observed as a decrease in well-being. This situation can cause the acute onset of musculoskeletal pain in students to become chronic with a decrease in well-being. On the contrary, we can observe an increase in musculoskeletal pain due to stress that may occur due to a decrease in well-being.

Musculoskeletal pain is a condition that is not fatal but severely impairs health and well-being (1). According to the biopsychosocial model, pain occurs in a complex interaction between biological, psychological and social factors (2). Therefore, pain is both a subjective experience and a physical sensation with large individual differences (3). Relaxation is now a non-pharmacological intervention that has been increasingly accepted in recent years to reduce and cope with pain (4). A person who is relaxed usually has a physical and psychological well-being and feelings of calmness (5). With relaxation exercises, the person starts to reduce anxiety level by coping with stress (6). In addition to relaxation techniques, deep breathing exercise, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, is a technique based on the idea that mind and body integration provides relaxation (7). Breathing exercises are easy to learn and practice and benefit can be obtained from deep breathing exercises performed in a short time (5 minutes of practice may be sufficient) (8). In studies in which both techniques were used separately, it was reported to provide physical and psychological relaxation.

The unique aspect of this study is the investigation of the effects of both techniques on pain and well-being in high school students using both techniques simultaneously.

For this purpose, we planned to investigate the short-term effects of deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation exercises on musculoskeletal pain and well-being in high school students.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The inclusion criteria were voluntary acceptance to participate in the exercise program with parental consent, the absence of an orthopedic, neurological or psychiatric disorder that would affect participation in exercises, and full participation in exercise sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who did not meet the inclusion criteria and did not voluntarily agree to participate in the study