Relaxation exercises ease pain and anxiety after emergency surgery, study finds

This study tested whether doing progressive relaxation exercises after emergency general surgery could help with pain, anxiety, and vital signs like heart rate and breathing. Seventy adults were randomly assigned to either do these exercises at specific times after surgery or receive standard care. The results showed that those who did the relaxation exercises had less pain and anxiety and better heart rate, breathing rate, and oxygen levels. This suggests that relaxation exercises are a simple, drug-free way to improve recovery after emergency surgery.