The Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Mental Health and Sleep Quality in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

<b>Background/Objective</b>: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic genetic disease affecting multiple body systems and having a significant impact on mental health and sleep. Patients with CF frequently suffer from anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, but non-pharmacological strategies are understudied. Although progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) has recognized benefits, its impact on CF remains insufficiently explored. The study aimed to analyze the effect of integrating PMR into a standard pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program on mental health, sleep quality, and quality of life in adults with CF. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 22 adult patients with CF were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (PR + PMR) or the control group (PR only). Assessments were performed at baseline, after 21 days of intervention, and at the 48-day follow-up. Outcome measures included the CFQ-R for quality of life, the HADS for mental health, and the PSQI for sleep. <b>Results</b>: Compared to the control group, participants who practiced PMR experienced significant reductions in anxiety (<i>p</i> = 0.05) and depression (<i>p</i> = 0.02) at the final assessment. A significant improvement in sleep quality was also observed (<i>p</i> < 0.01). No relevant differences were found in pulmonary function or performance on the six-minute walk test. <b>Conclusions</b>: Integrating PMR into pulmonary rehabilitation programs may be an effective strategy for improving mental health and sleep in patients with CF. Due to its accessibility and ease of implementation, PMR could be adopted as a complementary method in the holistic care of these patients.