SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF DEEP BREATHING AND PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION EXERCISES ON MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN AND WELL-BEING IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

"For deep breathing exercises, students were asked to place their dominant hand on their abdomen and non-dominant hand on their chest in the semi-fowler position. Afterwards, they were instructed to breath deeply through their nose for 4 seconds and exhale through their mouth for 8 seconds. These exercises were performed as 4 repetitions with 2 minutes rest time between the exercises. When the deep breathing exercises were finished, the students lay on their backs and rested for 1 minute and then progressive muscle relaxation exercise was started (10,11).~For the progressive muscle relaxation exercise, the students were asked to contract and then relax the right foot, left foot, right leg, left leg, hip, abdominal muscles, chest muscles and back muscles, right hand, left hand, right arm, left arm, neck and shoulders, and facial muscles respectively. Respectively, from bottom to top, all the major muscles are contracted while inhaling deeply and slowly, and relaxed and r"