THE EFFECT OF PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION TECHNIQUES ON BLOOD PRESSURE OF ELDERLY HYPERTENSION AT THE UPT TRESNA WERDHA KHUSNUL KHOTIMAH SOCIAL ASSOCIATION IN PEKANBARU CITYTITLE OF THE ARTICLE

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is an increase in blood pressure above normal, commonly occurring in the elderly due to declining organ function. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as heart disease and stroke. In addition to pharmacological therapy, progressive muscle relaxation is a non-pharmacological method that helps lower blood pressure by gradually relaxing the muscles. Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental design with a One Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The sample consisted of 19 elderly individuals with hypertension, selected using total sampling. Blood pressure was measured using a digital sphygmomanometer (Omicron brand), and the intervention involved 14 progressive muscle relaxation movements performed for five consecutive days. Results: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure before the intervention was 152.37/96.21 mmHg, which decreased to 150.32/94.26 mmHg after the intervention. Statistical analysis using the Paired t-test showed a pretest p-value of 0.001 and a posttest p-value of 0.002, indicating a significant difference before and after the intervention. Conclusion: Progressive muscle relaxation is expected to serve as an alternative method for managing hypertension in the elderly, particularly in social care settings.