Background: There is a lack of clinical trials studying the effects of relaxation techniques as a basis of stress management on anxiety and quality of life in anxious patients after heart surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of progressive muscular relaxation training on reducing anxiety and improving quality of life among patients with high levels of anxiety after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Material and methods: A randomized controlled trial with a prospective pretest-posttest experimental design was used. One hundred ten patients with threatening anxiety level, 6 weeks after coronary artery bypass surgery were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) training, and the control group received only routine cardiac rehabilitation care. State/trait anxiety was measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and quality of life was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire.

Results: There were significant reductions in state anxiety) P=0.001) and trait anxiety) P=0.001) in the experimental group when compared with the controls after the intervention. Significant improvements were found in the following quality of life measures after participating in progressive muscular relaxation training: physical functioning) P=0.00001), role-physical (P=0.03), bodily pain)P=0.00001), general health) P=0.00001), vitality) P=0.00001), social functioning) P=0.001), role-emotional (P=0.00001) and mental health) P=0.00001).

Conclusion: Teaching relaxation techniques could serve as a resource for improving heart patients’ psychological health and quality of life.