Effects of Sleep Restriction Therapy versus Progressive Muscles Relaxation Technique on Sleep Quality among Older Adults

In comparison to younger adults, older adults show age‐related sleep changes and greater sleep
problems with substantial adverse short- and long-term health consequences. Although behavioral
training is recommended for sleep problems, the value of sleep restriction therapy (SRT) in
comparison to progressive muscles relaxation technique (PMR) on sleep quality among older adults
remains unknown and not well established. Objective: Determine the effect of sleep restriction
therapy versus progressive muscles relaxation technique on sleep quality among older adults.
Setting: Four assisted living facilities affiliated to Alexandria Governorate, Egypt were included.
Subjects: 50 older adults who aged 60 years and more were randomly assigned to two equal study
groups; group 1, older adults who received sleep restriction therapy (SRT) and group 2: older adults
who received progressive muscles relaxation technique (PMR). Tools: Four tools were used for data
collection: 1) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMS) Scale. 2) Geriatric Depression Scale- Short
Form (GDS-SF). 3) Sleep quality of older adults structured interview questionnaire. 4) Socio
demographic and health profile of older adults structured interview questionnaire. Results: sleep
quality significantly increased after implementation of proposed interventions with mean percent
score of 63.0± 5.05 for SRT and with mean percent score of 44.50± 5.50 for PMR with statistically
highly significant differences, P < 0.001. A higher significant reduction in sleep latency among the
studied subjects who received SRT than those who received PMR was observed, P < 0.001.
Conclusion: Sleep restriction therapy showed highly statistically significant greater improvement
on sleep quality among the studied older adults than progressive muscles relaxation technique.
Recommendations: implementation of suitable cost effective cognitive behavioral therapies such as
SRT and PMR by the geronological nurses to enhance sleep quality among older adults at the
assisted living facilities. Also, gerontological nurses should Develop and conduct educational
programs to all care providers and older adults themselves about; age related changes in sleeping
patterns, and how to enhance sleep quality in old age.