Progressive relaxation exercises produced a statistically significant reduction in fatigue severity and improvements in blood glucose levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes, though improvements in sleep quality did not reach statistical significance.
Progressive relaxation exercises produced a statistically significant reduction in fatigue severity scale scores in the experimental group.
Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels showed a significant difference between pretest and posttest measurements in the experimental group.
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores decreased in the experimental group after the intervention, but the change was not statistically significant.
The study used progressive relaxation exercise videos as the intervention delivery method for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Statistical analysis included both parametric and non-parametric tests, with ANCOVA used to control for pretest scores when comparing groups.
This research suggests that a structured program of progressive muscle relaxation exercises — where a person systematically tenses and then releases different muscle groups throughout the body — can meaningfully reduce fatigue in people living with type 2 diabetes. In this randomized controlled trial of 63 diabetic outpatients, those who performed the relaxation exercises showed a statistically significant improvement in fatigue scores compared to before the intervention, while the control group did not receive the exercises. Blood sugar levels, both before and after meals, also improved significantly in the exercise group. The study also found that sleep quality scores (measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) improved in the exercise group, but this improvement was not large enough to be considered statistically significant. This means the relaxation exercises may have some benefit for sleep, but the study was not able to confirm this with confidence, possibly due to the relatively small sample size or the duration of the intervention. This research suggests that progressive relaxation exercises could be a practical, low-cost complementary approach to managing fatigue and potentially supporting blood glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes. The exercises were delivered via video, making them potentially accessible outside of clinical settings. However, larger studies would be needed to confirm the sleep-related benefits and to understand how long these effects last.
Upload your bloodwork. We'll cross-reference your results against this study and 4,700 others.
Upload Your LabsVardar Inkaya B, Koç A, Genç B, Mumcu C, Güngör C, Ersoy R. (2026). The Effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises Applied to Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes on FATIQUE Level and Sleep Quality: A Randomised Controlled Study.. Scandinavian journal of caring sciences. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.70220