Quasi-Experimental Study: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Jacobson Relaxation Techniques on Pain Among Post-COVID Geriatrics with Co-morbid Illness

Abstract

Introduction: Jacobson's progressive muscle has been widely recognized for its potential benefits in pain management, particularly in populations experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety, which are common in post-COVID patients. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Jacobson Relaxation Techniques on pain among post-COVID geriatrics who had co-morbid illness. Methods: Quantitative study was selected for the study. A total of 82 participants were selected using purposive methods allocated to either the intervention group (n=41) or the control group (n=41). Pain levels were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) at baseline and after a week of intervention. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis were employed to analyze the data. Results: The study finding revealed that the intervention group had a pre-intervention pain score of 7.2 ± 1.5, which reduced to 4.5 ± 1.2 post-intervention, indicating a noticeable reduction in pain levels following the intervention. In contrast, the control group had a pre-intervention pain score of 7.0 ± 1.4, which showed a minimal reduction to 6.8 ± 1.3 post-intervention, suggesting that the control condition had little to no impact on pain levels. The intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in pain scores compared to the control group post-intervention (p < 0.05), indicating the efficacy of Jacobson Relaxation Techniques in pain management among post-COVID geriatrics with co-morbid illness. Conclusions: Jacobson Relaxation Techniques offer a valuable non-pharmacological approach for alleviating pain in post-COVID geriatrics with co-morbid illness. Further study recommended on the integration of these techniques into clinical practice can improve the quality of life for this vulnerable population, addressing a critical aspect of post-COVID care.