Effectiveness of Intradialytic Stretching Exercises on Prevention and Reduction of Muscle Cramps among Patients undergoing Haemodialysis at PSG Hospitals Coimbatore

Abstract

Among the patients undergoing haemodialysis, complication o f muscle cramps, commonly occurs in calf muscles, feet, toes and thigh. Stretching exercises are the best measure to reduce or prevent cramps from occurring during haemodialysis among chronic renal failure patients. In this study to evaluate the effectiveness ofintra dialutic stretching exercise on pain due to muscle cramps among haemodialysis patient, randomised controlled clinical trial design was adopted; 162 patients, undergoing dialysis at Pradyumna Bal Memorial Hospital, Bhubaneswar were selected by consecutive sampling technique and according to randomisation table, divided into (1) control group (n=81) receiving only standard institutional protocol with 0.9% normal saline, at the onset of muscle cramps, during haemodialysis and (2) experimental group (n=81) receiving passive intradialytic stretching exercises, at the onset of pain, during haemodialysis for 15 minutes, once per sitting and the same was repeated for 3 such sittings. Pre-test pain score and post-test pain score at the end of each sitting, for both the group was recorded. Statistical findings (independent t-test) revealed that in day 3 post-test mean score of pain due to muscle cramp in experimental group and control group were 1.74 & 4.15 respectively with difference of pre-test and post-test score in experimental group and control group were 7.04 & 4.87 respectively which was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). After intra dialytic stretching exercise, a significant level of reduction in pain due to muscle cramps was noticed among patients undergoing haemodialysis. Participants felt comfortable and also expressed high level of satisfaction towards administration of stretching exercise.