the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on depressive symptoms in elderly people

Context: depression is one of the most common old‑age psychiatric disorders.aims: the present study was conducted to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation ondepressive symptoms in elders.setting and design: this quasi‑experimental study was conducted in two seniors daycare centers ofmazandaran in 2019.materials and methods: a total of 76 elderly people divided into intervention and control groups (38each). the intervention group performed relaxation exercises twice a day for 30 days, and the controlgroup received only the routine cares. the two groups’ depression was assessed before and a month afterrelaxation using the geriatric depression scale.statistical analysis used: data were analyzed in spss‑22 using mann–whitney and wilcoxon tests.results: after a month, depression score in the intervention group reduced from 7.13 ± 1.14 to5.55 ± 0.98 (p < 0.001), but the score change in the control group was not significant (from 7.13 ± 0.96to 7.18 ± 0.83) (p = 0.655). the intervention significantly changed depression score in elders (p < 0.001).conclusion: a month of progressive muscle relaxation appears to improve depressive symptoms in elderlypeople. implementing of such measures is recommended in the day care centers.