The Effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises on Pain and Bowel Movements in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose: Postoperative pain and decreased bowel movements are common complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of progressive relaxation exercises on pain and bowel movements after this procedure. Methods: The data of the randomized controlled experimental study were collected between January and April 2024 in the general surgery clinic of a university hospital. The study sample consisted of 80 patients (40 experimental and 40 control) selected by simple randomization who met the research criteria. Patients in the experimental group underwent progressive relaxation exercises at the fourth and sixth hours after surgery. The Descriptive Information Form, Visual Analog Scale Pain Form, and Bowel Movement Monitoring Form were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests, independent-samples t-tests, the Mann-Whitney U test, generalized estimating equations, and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The mean pain scores of the patients in the experimental group after the first application, before the second application, and after the second application were statistically significantly lower than those of the patients in the control group (p < .05). The generalized estimating equations analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in the effect of progressive relaxation exercises on pain reduction over time (p < .05). The time of the first bowel sounds, first flatus, and first defecation were statistically and significantly earlier in the experimental group than in the control group (p < .05). Conclusion: Progressive relaxation exercises decreased postoperative pain and shortened the time to the first bowel movements, the first flatus, and the first defecation in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. (c) 2025 Korean Society of Nursing Science. Published by Elsevier BV. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).