Effect of Muscle Stretching and Range of Motion Exercises on Sleep Quality and Anxiety among Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Background: Sleep disturbance and anxiety are more common observed in hemodialysis patients than in healthy people and affect patients' clinical outcomes. Aim: determine the effect of muscle stretching and range of motion exercises on sleep quality and anxiety among hemodialysis patients. Design: A quasi experimental research design (pre-posttest control group) was employed. Setting: The study was accomplished at the hemodialysis unit at El Fayoum General Hospital. The unit worked three shifts per day /week expect Friday. Subjects: specific eligibility criteria were applied to purposively select a sample of 60 adult patients/both genders on maintenance hemodialysis. They further were partitioned into two groups 30 patients in each (study and control groups). Tools: three tools were handled: A structured interview questionnaire, The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Scale and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale/STAI: Results: a statistically significant difference was observed between the study and control groups in favor of the former concerning the Global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) score and anxiety level after 6 weeks of intervention in which more than half (60.0%) in the study group have no difficulty comparing to more than three quarters (76.7%) in the control group had somewhat difficulty with P = 0 .00. Also 70.0% in the study group had mild anxiety while, in the control group 53.3% had moderate anxiety. Conclusion: The study concluded that; muscle stretching and range of motion exercises have significant positive effect on sleep quality and anxiety level among patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Recommendation: The developed booklet with its simple instructions and illustrations should be utilized in hemodialysis unit as a teaching aid for hemodialysis patients. Intradialytic exercise programs should be incorporated into routine clinical practice.