The Effect of Intradialytic Stretching Training on Restless Legs Syndrome and Sleep Quality in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Purpose: Intradialytic exercise could be a cornerstone of management in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intradialytic stretching training on Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and sleep quality among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: This 8-week quasi-experimental design study involved adult patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis treatment for at least 3 months at the Drug Dependency Hospital Nephrology Unit in Jakarta. Nineteen participants were listed in each group, so a total of 38 participants were registered. Convenience sampling was used to select respondents. In addition, each respondent was asked to complete the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRSSG) rating scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: The majority of respondents were women (55.3%), unemployed (71.1%), with duration of hemodialysis>12 months (55.3%), and having hemoglobin levels less than 10 mg/dl (68.4%). The mean RLS before intervention was 1.74 (Standard Deviation [SD]=0.23) and after intervention, there was significant reduction in RLS score to a mean of 0.42 (SD=0.17) (p<.001). Similarly, mean sleep quality before intervention was 4.02 (SD=2.56) and after intervention, it reduced significantly to a mean of 6.16 (SD=3.18) (p<.001). Conclusion: Intradialytic stretching training could play a significant role in decreasing RLS and improving quality of sleep. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer periods of intervention are required to validate our results and contribute to better patient outcomes.