Reduction of Muscle Cramps among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: The Effectiveness of Intradialytic Stretching Exercises

Renal failure is a non-communicable disease which has drastically affected a majority of the world population including Indians. With many patients undergoing dialysis, muscle cramps are a common complication during dialysis treatments.

To assess the effectiveness of intradialytic stretching exercises on reduction of muscle cramps among patients undergoing hemodialysis.

A quantitative evaluative pre-experimental research design with one group pre-test pot-test was used. 60 patients undergoing hemodialysis who met the inclusion criteria were recruited using non probability purposive sampling technique. Intradialytic stretching exercises were performed for the gastrocnemius and soleus (calf) muscles of the patient during the 2nd hour of hemodialysis. Data collected before and after intervention was collected using Modified Penn's Spasm Frequency Scale.

Findings revealed that before performance of intradialytic stretching exercises, 66.7% and 33.3% of samples had immoderate and severe muscle cramps respectively. Post intervention 1.7% of samples had severe muscle cramps, 8.3% had mild muscle cramps and 1.7% did not have muscle cramps. This showed that intradialytic stretching exercises were effective in reducing muscle cramps among patients undergoing hemodialysis.