Effectiveness of Intradialytic Stretching Exercises on Prevention and Reduction of Leg Muscle Cramps among Patients undergoing Hemodialysis: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Renal replacement therapy is a treatment option for people who have acute or chronic renal failure. A patient
with increasing symptoms of renal failure is referred to a dialysis and transplantation center early in the
course of progressive kidney disease. Hemodialysis is one of the most widely used dialysis procedures.
Muscle cramps are the most common complication experienced by hemodialysis patients that usually
develop during and in between hemodialysis therapy. These cramps appear to be the most common reason
for the early termination of the hemodialysis session. Study Design: Pretest-posttest non-blind randomized
controlled trial has been used in the present study to evaluate the effectiveness of Intradialytic stretching
exercises on the leg muscle cramps among patients undergoing hemodialysis, from the period of September
5th, 2020 to March 22nd, 2021. Study Sample: Non-probability purposive Sample of 60 patients undergoing
hemodialysis. The sample is divided randomly into two groups; 30 patients as the study group and the
other 30 as the control group. The setting of the study: The study is conducted in Al-Najaf City/Al-Najaf
Al-Ashraf Health Directorate / Al-Sadder Medical City / The specialized center for kidney diseases and
transplantation / Hemodialysis Unit. Result: The study result signifies that the level of muscle cramps
improved significantly among the study group participants compared with control group.