A study to evaluate the effectiveness of intradialytic stretching exercise on prevention and reduction of muscle cramps among patients undergoing haemodialysis at selected hospital, Kanyakumari District

Haemodialysis is a procedure done to manage client with end stage renal failure by using an artificial kidney to replace the excretory function of the failed kidneys. Health personnel’s and family members of clients are more concerned with the physiological problems of the patients. Some of the physiological problems are given less or no importance, for example muscle cramps which occurs during haemodialysis. The current study assessed the effectiveness of intradialytic stretching exercise on muscle cramps among patients undergoing haemodialysis at Dialysis unit, Jeyasekharan Hospital. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to reduce the frequency, duration, quality, intensity of muscle cramps. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the characteristics of muscle cramps among control group. 2. To assess the characteristics of muscle cramps among experimental group after intervention. 3. To evaluate the effectiveness of intradialytic stretching exercises on muscle cramps among experimental group. 4. To associate the effectiveness of intradialytic stretching exercise with selected demographic variables. METHODS: Based on true experimental design – post test only control group design 30 samples were selected and randomized. The intradialytic stretching exercise given for the patients under experimental group at the end of first hour of haemodialysis. The post intervention assessment done at the end of each hour of the cycle. The characteristics of muscle cramps were assessed without any intervention for control group. The findings were given score and interpreted and analysed. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a significant difference between experimental and control group. Initially experiment group patients have 21% score at first day in 2 hours of muscle cramps and control group patients have 32.3% score at first day in 2 hours of muscle cramps after three days in experiment group patients have 15.6% score in forth hours of muscle cramps and control group patients have 40.2% score of muscle cramps and muscle cramps pain reduction difference in percentage at third day 24.6%. Overall the effectiveness of intervention is reduction of muscle cramps between experimental and control group is 5.4%. Experimental group benefited more than control group. CONCLUSION: The study was concluded that intradialytic stretching exercise can be effectively used to reduce the frequency, duration, quality, intensity and decrease the muscle tone of the patients who are undergoing haemodialysis. The intervention given during the haemodialysis session is simple and effective method to treat muscle cramps. Intradialytic stretching exercise can be added as an adjunct treatment for dialysis patients