Evidence Update: Investigating the Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Patients with Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy

These studies examined relaxation training as an intervention for the adverse reactions that can occur during chemotherapy. Anxiety, depression and reduced quality of life can accompany chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. The studies examined two groups of breast cancer patients and the group that received the progressive muscle relaxation training had less anxiety and stress during and post chemotherapy. Progressive muscle relaxation can reduce both psychological and physiological side effects of chemotherapy and can be used as an aide to better quality of life.