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NCT Number: NCT07623005

Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Pain and Quality of Life in Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer patients often experience pain and reduced quality of life during chemotherapy. This randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) exercises, added to routine range-of-motion exercises, reduce pain and improve quality of life compared to range-of-motion exercises alone. Thirty-two thyroid cancer patients randomly assigned to either the PMR group or the control group. Pain measured by using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and quality of life using the FACT-G questionnaire before and after a 4-5 day intervention. The study compared changes between groups.

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Key information

Conditions

Thyroid Cancer Endocrine Gland Neoplasms Endocrine System Diseases Head and Neck Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Thyroid Diseases Thyroid Neoplasms

Age range

30 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The University of Faisalabad

Faisalābad, Punjab Province, 3800, Pakistan

About this study

This is a single-center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial to be conducted at PINUM Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan. A total of 32 patients with histologically confirmed thyroid cancer (Stage I-III) undergoing chemotherapy (1-3 sessions) will be enrolled. Inclusion criteria: age 30-50 years, moderate pain (NPRS 3-7), baseline FACT-G score ≥80%, history of lobectomy or thyroidectomy. Exclusion criteria: comorbidities (cardiomyopathy, respiratory disorders, severe mental illness), recent fractures or surgeries, inability to follow instructions, current practice of relaxation therapies. Participants will be randomly allocated 1:1 using an online random number generator into two groups. Experimental group (n=16): Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique (PMRT) once daily for 4-5 consecutive days, each session 20-40 minutes, targeting head/neck, shoulders, arms/hands, lower back/hips, calves/thighs, and feet/toes. Each movement involves deep inhalation, tensing for 10-20 seconds, then exhalation with relaxation. Control group (n=16): gentle range-of-motion and stretching exercises of same frequency and duration. Outcomes: pain (NPRS, 0-10) and quality of life (FACT-G, 4 subscales) measured at baseline and post-intervention. Normality of data assessed by using Shapiro-Wilk test. Between-group comparisons is performed by using Mann-Whitney U test, and within-group pre-post comparisons using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. No adverse events are anticipated. After study completion, results will be submitted separately in the Results Module.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Histologically confirmed thyroid cancer (Stage I-III)
  • Age 30-50 years
  • Moderate pain (NPRS score 3-7)
  • Baseline FACT-G score ≥80%
  • Undergoing chemotherapy (1-3 sessions completed)
  • History of lobectomy or thyroidectomy
  • Provided written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Comorbidities (cardiomyopathy, respiratory disorders, severe mental illness)
  • Recent fractures or surgeries
  • Unable to comprehend or follow instructions
  • Currently practicing PMR or any other relaxation therapy

Treatment and study plan

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique

Behavioral

Participants were guided through sequential tensing and relaxing of six muscle groups: head/neck, shoulders/upper back, arms/hands, lower back/hips, calves/thighs, and feet/toes. For each group, they inhaled deeply and tensed muscles for 10-20 seconds, then exhaled slowly while relaxing completely. Each session lasted 20-40 minutes, once daily for 4-5 consecutive days. Sessions were conducted by a trained physiotherapist in a quiet hospital room.

Range of Motion and Stretching Exercises

Other

Participants performed gentle range-of-motion (ROM) and stretching exercises for the same muscle groups (head/neck, shoulders, arms, lower back, legs, feet), without the tensing-relaxation component of PMR. Each session lasted 20-40 minutes, once daily for 4-5 consecutive days, supervised by the same physiotherapist.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Pain Intensity

    Time frame: Baseline (day 1) and post-intervention (day 4-5)

    Pain intensity measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), an 11-point scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). Higher scores indicate worse pain.

  2. Change in Quality of Life

    Time frame: Baseline (day 1) and post-intervention (day 4-5)

    Quality of life measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G), a 27-item questionnaire covering physical, social/family, emotional, and functional well-being. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Faisalabad

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique on Pain and Quality of Life in Thyroid Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: PMRT-ThyCa

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 3, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 3, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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