The purposes of this research are to examine the effects of muscle relaxation to the rheumatoid arthritis patients´ physiological, psychological, and social adaptation, and to verify that the technique is an effective tool for improving the patients´ adaptation.
This research utilized a qusi-experimental design that compares the pre-experiment measures and the post-experiment measures. The subjects of this study were 37 out-patients who were diagnosed for rheumatoid arthritis in P university hospital and K clinic between September 12, 1993 and November 30, 1993. The experimental group consisted of patients treated on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The control group consisted of patients treated on y Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The pre-experimental survey utilized the following tools. The physiological adaptation was measured by a graphic rating scale for pain and activity of daily living. The psychological adaptation was measured by Zung´s depression scale and Rosenberg´s selfesteem scale : and the social adaptation was measured by Derogatis´ psychosocial adjustment scale. The experimental group received muscle relaxation treatment for 15 minutes per day for the period of 2 weeks : the control group received no treatment and had quiet time.
The post-experiment measurement was carried out similar to the pre-experiment survey. SPSS PC^(+) is used to analyze the collected data. The reliabilities of the measurement tools were examined by Cronbach´s α coefficints. The homogeneities between the experimental and control groups were tested by t- test and chisquare test, hypotheses were tested by t-test.
This research found that the general characteristics between the groups were statistically homogenous. The physiological, psychological, and social adaptation between the groups in the pre-experimental survey were also statistically homogenous.
The results of this research can be summarized as follows :
1. Concerning the physiological adaptation, the experimental group showed a statistically lower pain score than the control group. Thus, muscle relaxation was effective to relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis patients(t=-2.95, P=.006).
2. Concerning the psychological adaptation, the experimental group showed a statistically lower depression score than the control group. Thus, muscle relaxation was effective to reduce the patient´s depression(t=-4.00, P=.001).
3. Concerning social adaptation, the experimental group showed a statistically higher score for the health maintenance and disease control than the control groups. Thus, muscle relaxation was effective for the health maintenance and disease control(t=2.09, P=.004).
This research showed that the muscle relaxation is a nursing intervention that can promote the physiological, psychological and social adaptation of the rheumatoid arthritis patients in terms of short-term and cognitive changes. However, more fundomental changes in behavior and longterm physiology could not be found through such a short-term relaxation treatment.
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