Comparison of the effects of three kinds of hand exercises on improving limb function in patients after transradial cardiac catheterization

Objectives

This study aimed to compare effects of different hand exercises on improving limb function in patients after transradial cardiac catheterization.

Methods

This single-center, randomized clinical trial was conducted from August 20, 2020, to July 20, 2021, at an academic medical center. A total of 102 participants were selected from a Class A tertiary hospital in Nanjing, China and randomized into three groups: finger exercise group (n = 34), acupoint massage group (n = 34), and handgrip exercise group (n = 34). Symptoms of edema and pain were defined as primary outcomes, while skin temperature and degree of bleeding as secondary outcomes, which were monitored and measured 1, 2, and 4 h, after the intervention.

Results

Among the 99 participants who completed the process, the palm edema was gradually relieved in the handgrip exercise group at 2 h (H = 6.710, P = 0.035) and 4 h (H = 10.060, P < 0.001) following the intervention. The edema of fingers in the handgrip exercise group was obviously relieved at 2 h (H = 9.353, P < 0.01) and 4 h (H = 10.699, P < 0.001) following the intervention compared with the other two groups. In addition, the pain score at 4 h (H = 7.048, P = 0.029) was clearly decreased in the handgrip exercise group. However, there was no significant difference in the punctured limb’s skin temperature (H = 0.922, P = 0.631) and the degree of bleeding (H = 0.123, P = 0.940) among the three groups.

Conclusions

We found that handgrip exercise is more effective in reducing the edema of the limbs than finger exercise and acupoint massage.