EFFECTIVENESS OF STRETCHING EXERCISES ON MUSCLE CRAMPS AND FATIGUE AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Abstract

: Muscle cramps and fatigue are prevalent complications in patients undergoing hemodialysis, negatively impacting their quality of life. This study evaluated the effectiveness of stretching exercises in reducing muscle cramps and fatigue among hemodialysis patients at a selected hospital in Gurugram. Aim-The objectives were to assess the impact of stretching exercises on muscle cramps and fatigue, examine the correlation between these variables, and explore associations with selected demographic and clinical factors. Method-A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 50 hemodialysis patients, divided into control and experimental groups. The control group received standard care, while the experimental group performed stretching exercises. Muscle cramps were measured using a Cramp Questionnaire Chart and Visual Analogue Scale, and fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale. Data were collected at pre-test, post-test 1, and post-test 2, and analyzed using paired and unpaired t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square tests, and correlation analysis. Results-The control group showed no significant changes in muscle cramp or fatigue scores, while the experimental group demonstrated significant reductions in muscle cramp scores from 7.84 ± 2.5 to 0.48 ± 1.4 and fatigue scores from 56.80 ± 2.61 to 34.64 ± 8.13 (p = 0.000). No significant correlation between muscle cramps and fatigue was found, though some associations with demographic factors were noted.