Assess the effectiveness of intradialytic low-intensity stretching exercise on muscle cramps among patients undergoing haemodialysis at dialysis unit, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai

Haemodialys is is a procedure done to manage client wit h end stage renal failure by using an artificial kidney t o replace the excretory function of the failed kidneys. Health personnel’s and family members of clients are more concerned wit h the physiological problems of t he patients . Some of t he physiological problems are given less or no importance, for example muscle cramps which occurs during haemodialysis. The current study assesed the effectiveness of intradialytic low-intensity stretching exercise on muscle cramps among patients undergoing haemodialysis at Dialysis unit, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. The aim of the study is t o reduce t he frequency, duration, quality, intensity of muscle cramps. Based on t rue experimental design – post test only control group design 80 samples were s elected and randomised. The intradialytic low- intensity stret ching exercise given for the patients under experiment al group at t he end of first hour of haemodialysis. The post intervent ion assessment done at the end of each hour of the cycle. The characteristics of muscle cramps were assessed with out any intervention for control group. The findings were given score and interpreted and analysed. The results showed that there was a significant difference between experimental and control group. Overall the effectiveness of intervention is 24.5% in experimental group, whereas with routine care in control group is 7.1%. Experimental group benefited more than control group (17.4%). Thus ,the study was concluded that intradialytic low-intensitystretching exercise can be effectively used to reduce the frequency, duration, quality, intensity and decrease t he muscle tone of the patients who are undergoing haemodialysis . The intervention given during the haemodialysis session is simple and effective method t o treat muscle cramps . Intradialyticlowintensity stret ching exercise can be added as an adjunct treatment for dialysis patients