Effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Students with Tension-Type Headache: A Pre-Post Interventional Study

Tension-Type Headache (TTH) is a common condition strongly associated with stress. Its prevalence is particularly high among students, where it is often aggravated by poor sleep, academic pressure, and inadequate relaxation. TTH negatively affects general health and academic performance, underscoring the need for effective, non-pharmacological stressreduction strategies such as Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). To evaluate the effectiveness of PMR in reducing the severity and disability associated with TTH among students. This quantitative pre–post interventional study included 36 students diagnosed with TTH according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) criteria. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Headache severity and disability were measured using the Headache Disability Index (HDI) before and after a six-week PMR intervention. Data normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, and pre and post intervention scores were compared using a paired t-test. Associations with demographic variables were analyzed using the chi-square test. PMR significantly reduced headache-related disability. Mean HDI scores decreased from 50.67±15.85 to 21.89±12.48 (p < 0.001), with a large effect size (η2 = 0.923). No adverse effects were reported. Progressive Muscle Relaxation is a promising, safe, and practical non-pharmacological intervention for managing TTH among students. Regular practice may help reduce headache severity, improve coping with stress, and enhance overall quality of life and academic performance. Major Findings: Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) significantly reduced headache-related disability in students with tension-type headache, showing it to be a safe and practical intervention. Given the high burden of TTH on student performance and well-being, these findings support PMR as a simple, cost-effective strategy for improving student health in academic settings.