A study to assess the effectiveness of intradialytic stretching exercises on muscle cramps among patients undergoing regular haemodialysis
Keywords:
End-Stage Renal Disease, Quasi-experime, Muscle cramps, HaemodialysisAbstract
Aim: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of intradialytic stretching exercises on muscle cramps among patients undergoing regular haemodialysis.
Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design was adopted. The structured questionnaire used to measure Clinical variables & muscle cramps to assess the effectiveness of intradialytic stretching exercises on level of muscle cramps. The severity of muscle cramps assessed over six pre-intervention dialysis cycles and six post-intervention dialysis cycles among 45 patients undergoing regular haemodialysis. Severity of muscle cramps assessed over six cycles of dialysis. Data collection: Ethical clearance obtained from Kauvery ethical committee and informed consent obtained from each participants.
Results: The pre-test mean score of muscle cramps was 12.24 ± 1.09, while the post-test mean score was 6.31 ± 0.63, with a mean difference of 5.93. The paired t-test value of 40.356 was statistically significant (p < 0.001), indicating that intradialytic stretching exercises were effective in reducing muscle cramp severity among patients receiving regular haemodialysis.
Conclusion: The present study concluded that the intradialytic stretching exercises has significant effects in reduction of muscle cramps and pain in patients receiving haemodialysis and which can be used as a preventive therapy to reduce muscle cramps.
