The efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation training on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in cancer patients, usually accompanied by anxiety, depression and insomnia, which seriously affect patients' quality of life. Progressive muscle relaxation training is widely used for cancer-related fatigue, but the overall effect is unclear. The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence on the effects of progressive muscle relaxation training on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in cancer patients. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Nine electronic databases (PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), The Cochrane Library (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CENTRAL), Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) and Wanfang Database) were explored for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before February 2023. This study was reported based on the PRISMA 2020 statement. The Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias assessment tool was used for methodological assessment, and the GRADE pro online assessment tool was used for evidence evaluation. The data were analyzed with Review Manager 5.4 software. Twelve studies involving 1047 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that progressive muscle relaxation training plus routine nursing produced more positive effects than routine nursing in improving cancer-related fatigue [SMD = − 1.06, 95 % CI -1.49, − 0.62, P < 0.00001], anxiety [SMD = − 1.09, 95 % CI -1.40, − 0.77, P < 0.00001], depression [SMD = − 1.43, 95 % CI -1.76, − 1.10, P < 0.00001], quality of sleep [MD = − 1.41, 95 % CI -1.74, − 1.08, P < 0.00001]. However, there was no significant difference in improving quality of life [SMD = 0.27, 95 % CI -0.62, 1.15, P = 0.55]. Progressive resistance exercise plus routine nursing improved cancer-related fatigue more than progressive muscle relaxation training plus routine nursing [SMD = 1.11, 95 % CI 0.43, 1.78, P = 0.001]. There was low certainty of evidence that progressive muscle relaxation training improved cancer-related fatigue and quality of sleep, and the evidence that improved quality of life, anxiety and depression was very low. Current evidence suggested that progressive muscle relaxation training has the potential to improve cancer-related fatigue, anxiety, depression and sleep quality in cancer patients and is a low-load, simple exercise worthy of recommendation for cancer patients in fatigue state. Future research should focus on improving the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials to enhance the persuasive evidence of progressive muscle relaxation training efficacy.