The Effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises on Pain and Kinesiophobia After Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation is a common treatment for acute and chronic liver failure, liver malignancy and complicated cirrhosis. Although life expectancy increases after liver transplantation, some undesirable problems such as rejection, cardiovascular risk factors, hypertension, infection and malignancy occur. Preferring non-pharmacological methods to minimise complications and improve quality of life accelerates the return of the individual to normal life. Progressive Relaxation Exercises, one of these methods, can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate can be kept within clinically normal limits due to vasodilatation in the blood vessels in the peripheral area and oxygen requirement is reduced. PGE has been reported to have many benefits such as reducing the effects of anxiety and stress, reducing acute and chronic pain, nausea and vomiting, facilitating sleep, reducing fatigue, reducing respiration, blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension. Therefore, in this study, the effects of progressive relaxation exercises on pain and kinesiophobia in liver transplant patients were examined.