Leg Exercise: Effect On Reducing Fatigue and Improving Activities of Daily Living For Hemodialysis Patients
Leg Exercise: Effect On Reducing Fatigue and Improving Activities of Daily Living For Hemodialysis Patients
Leg Exercise: Effect On Reducing Fatigue and Improving Activities of Daily Living For Hemodialysis Patients
e- ISSN: 2320–1959.p- ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 7, Issue 3 Ver. IV (May-June .2018), PP 11-19
www.iosrjournals.org
Abstract: Background: Hemodialysis is a physically worrying procedure and most of the patients will
have fatigue and thereby disturbances of the electrolytes, and hemoglobin level. Exercises supplied in the
course of hemodialysis consultation do now not fee sufferers more time and will
be effective in decreasing fatigue level and enhancing the potential for appearing their activities of each
day living & might also moreover improve the elimination. Aim: to determine the impact of leg exercise during
hemodialysis on the fatigue level and activity of daily living among patient performing hemodialysis. Design:
Quiz experimental (Pre-posttest) research design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was conducted
in hemodialysis unit at Aswan University hospital. Sample: A total number of one hundred adult patients who
satisfy the inclusion criteria have been involved in the study. Tools: Socio-demographic and medical data, Katz
Index of Independence in Daily Living Activities and Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue scale. Results:
there has been a statistically significant distinction among pre and post-test regarding Katz Index of
Independence in Daily Living Activities, and a surprising statistically significant distinction among pre and
post-test concerning fatigue degree among patient participant. Recommendations: A simple physical exercise
program may be considered as a safe and effective clinical nursing modality in patients on Hemodialysis to
decrease fatigue degree and enhance Daily Living Activities.
Keywords: Leg Exercise, Fatigue, Activities of Daily Living, and Hemodialysis
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Date of Submission: 09-05-2018 Date of acceptance: 24-05-2018
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I. Introduction
Patients who acquired hemodialysis had limitations in a number of areas like energy, physical
activities, and physical role boundaries and assumed a drastically lower physical functioning when compared
with that of the general population.(Chang, Cheng et al. 2010). Humans with the chronic renal disease, either
hemodialysis HD or peritoneal dialysis PD are suggested having high levels of fatigue regularly not able
to interact in daily activities. Depending on the severity of fatigue, sometimes patients can’t carry out their
activities of daily living as; ingesting, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (walking), and continence or can
only do so to a lesser degree (Bonner, Wellard et al. 2010).
Increasing activity degrees is a promising solution to fight muscle wastage and related decreased
physical function in HD patients.(Parker 2016) research suggests that patients on hemodialysis in Europe, Asia,
and the center East felt the most fatigue right now after hemodialysis, have been not capable
of performing everyday activities, and experienced position boundaries and
a lower in strength and bodily potential because of their fatigue (Heiwe, Clyne et al. 2003). (Kazemi,
Nasrabadi et al. 2011). certainly, fatigue influences the lives of patients on hemodialysis worldwide.(Horigan
and Barroso 2016).
Fatigue represented as weak spot, loss of power and feeling of exhaustion. Fatigue influences not only
daily life but also disturbed daily self-care activities, emotional status (Checheriţă, Turcu et al. 2010)
Demonstrating Intradialytic exercise will improve the effectiveness of dialysis and remove lengthy-time period
complications.(Soliman,2015). Being concerned for sufferers with CKD and ESRD demanding challenges of all
healthcare personnel. Whereas patients in the hospital need nurses to demonstrate knowledge of the renal
disease and renal pathology, and expertise in the identification and management of fatigue that usually impacts
patients’ quality of life. Apparently several studies show that most of the patients on dialysis suffer from
fatigue.(Jablonski 2007) .
Study sample: A convenience sample of 100 adult patient undergoing hemodialysis at least from six months
have been included in this study with fulfilled the inclusion criteria: Both men and women with age ranged
between 18 to 65 year, regularly performing hemodialysis sessions for three times a week, free from associated
diseases.
Tool II: Katz Index of Independence in Daily Living Activities it was developed by (Katz 1983).
It includes a six-item scale: dressing, bathing, toileting, transfer, continence, and feeding. The scale
dimensions rank subjects in line with carrying out each item and give a total score corresponding to
universal overall performance. Interpretation has been for each item as follows: 1 – performs the activity
without any help or assistance (independent); 0.5 – performs the activity with partial assistance or help (partially
dependent); 0 – needs full help to perform the activity (dependent). the total score varies from zero to 6, with six
being the most independent. Subjects were categorized into three levels of dependency: independent (≥ six
points), partially dependent (three-five points) and dependent (≤ two points). patients are provided with
the tool and it is scored as sure or no in finding the independence degree in six regions of functioning
Scoring stages from six which shows a
complete functioning, four shows moderate impairmentand two or less indicating severe functional impairment.
Tool III: Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue scale, it was created by (Belza 1995). This scale is a
sixteen item scale that measures fatigue level according to 4 dimensions: degree and severity, distress that it
causes, timing of fatigue (over the past week, when it occurred and any changes), and its impact on every
day living (household chores, cooking, washing, dressing, working, socializing, sexual activity, relaxation and
recreation, shopping, walking, and exercising). There are sixteen items. The items are utilized to calculate
scores for each of the 4 dimensions listed above and fifteen of the sixteen items are used to calculate the global
fatigue index.
Exercise program
The program became explained in details for each patient. The leg exercise program concerned the
subsequent: warm up (extension, flexion, internal and external, rotation (for the hip, knee, and ankle). biking on
the cycle ergometer and cooling down (stretching). The total length of exercise program was forty minutes
divided into five minutes before the session of hemodialysis and thirty-five minutes during the of a hemodialysis
session. Warm-up (approximately five minutes) – free active exercises of the lower extremities in the supine
position. (Ten minutes to half-hour) foot pedal exercise of increasing duration beginning with fifteen minutes in
the first week, twenty minutes in the second week, and thirty minutes the following and subsequent weeks in a
semi-supine position. Cool-down (approximately five minutes) – free active exercises of the lower extremities in
the supine position associated with breathing exercises.
The intervention changed the application of resistance exercise during hemodialysis sessions, three
times weekly for duration of three months. All contributors underwent an individualized tri-weekly pedal
exercise program for three months during the dialysis session. Participants exercise was scheduled within the
first 2 hours of dialysis session in order to encourage motivation and prevent decrease blood pressure. Duration
of the training was gradually prolonged, from five-seven minutes initially to thirty - four minutes. Training of
intensity was also gradually increased, however, not earlier than the full-time duration of the training session
was achieved. At the onset of the exercise program, the following variables were analyzed: creatinine level, and
hemoglobin level, as well as daily living activity, and Multidimensional Fatigue Assessment. It was supposed
that the exercises program must terminate during the training session in the following cases: inability to
maintain the recommended rate of pedaling; occurrence of retrosternal muscle, articular pain; increase of
respiration rate above forty per minute; occurrence of nausea, dizziness, muscle cramps; or patient's request
(malaise, fatigue).
All participants were verbally encouraged at the onset of dialysis session regarding their exercise
program. The program was developed under a supervisor and the advice of physician and nurses from the
faculty of nursing and the dialysis unit, and all of them were assisted in the evaluation of physical functioning
and in developing the exercises. The effectiveness the exercise program was carried out post three months. At
the end of the exercise program, the following variables were analyzed: creatinine level, and hemoglobin level,
the activity of daily living, as well as Multidimensional Fatigue Assessment.
III. Method
Administrative approval: An official permission to perform the study was acquired from responsible
authorities at College of Nursing at Aswan University. Then, the permission was obtained from the hospital
administrative authority.
The first tool (Socio-demographic and medical data) has been designed by the researcher after an intensive
review of the relevant literature. The tool has been tested for content validity by five professional experts of
academic medical and nursing staff at Aswan University. The tool was tested for reliability by using internal
consistency for the tools measured by the usage of Cronbach test, the tools proved to be reliable (0.73).
Ethical consideration: An oral permission for voluntary participation was obtained from patients and
the nature and purpose of the study were explained. The researcher initially introduced himself to all patients
and they were assured that the collected information would be absolutely confidential. Patients were informed of
voluntary participation and that withdrawal at any time of the study can occur as they want. Confidentiality of
the patient's information changed into ascertained. Patient’s names have been coded for data entry so that their
names could not be recognized.
Pilot study: A pilot study was conducted on ten percent of the sample (ten patients) in a selected setting to
evaluate the applicability & clarity of the tools. According to this pilot study, the suggested modifications have
been performed.
Table (4): The table revealed an obvious statistically significant distinction among pre and post-test regarding
Katz Index of Independence in of everyday Living Activities.
Table (5): The table showed a highly statistically significant distinction among pre and post-test regarding
fatigue degree among patient participant.
Table (6): The table illustrated that there was a statistically significant difference between pre and post-test
concerning sociodemographic data and Katz Index of Independence in every Day Living Activities in the
educational level and the occupational status. On the same time, there
was a surprisingly statistically significant distinction concerning age, gender, and the financial income.
Table (3): Frequency distribution of study sample for Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily
Living (ADL) among participant n=100:
*=Significant difference, *p≤0.05 **= highly significance, **p≤0.01 Ns= Non significant
Table (5): Comparison of fatigue level between pre and posttest among patient participant n=100:
Study group n = 100 P v.
Level of fatigue Mild Moderate Severe
N % N % N %
Pretest 0 0.0% 17 17% 83 83% .0001**
Posttest 41 41% 28 28% 31 31%
*=Significant difference, *p≤0.05 **= highly significance, **p≤0.01 Ns= Non significant
Table (6): Relation between pre and post-test regarding sociodemographic characteristics and Katz Index
of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) among participant n=100:
*=Significant difference, *p≤0.05 **= highly significance, **p≤0.01 Ns= Non significant
IV. Discussion
Fatigue is documented as a terrible symptom experienced by a big wide variety of patients with end-
stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis. Fatigue is a problematic symptom, and the results of fatigue may
be overwhelming (Liu 2006). Dialysis software influences patients’ disability, activities of each day living and
self-efficacy stages (Mollaoglu 2011).
This study represented that the majority of patients suffered from leg cramps specifically at the calf
muscle. All of them didn’t carry out any form of exercise at home or exercise any type
of exercise to reduce muscle cramps while undergoing hemodialysis. Some of our hospitals do not have a leg-
training protocol during the dialysis session. This finding in contrast with (Mokabel 2000) who mentioned that
the hemodialysis patients donning daily living activities better than patient used other methods of dialysis.
(Soliman 2015) concluded that, a simplified physical exercise program can be considered as
a cozy and effective scientific nursing modality in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis.
The end result of the prevailing study clarifies a statistically significant distinction among pre and post-
test regarding Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living. A large and increasing
variety of research showed the benefit of exercise during dialysis and indicated the improvement in those
patients (Bayoumi and Al Wakeel 2015, Seong 2015).
In our study, there was a significant change in fatigue degree post leg exercise program. Accordingly,
findings of the study with the aid of (Soliman 2015) discovered the effectiveness of an Intradialytic range of
motion intervention program on hemodialysis patients, on decreasing fatigue. Fatigue is supposed as the most
common and the most severe symptom ever pronounced by patients with chronic kidney disease. Intradialytic
exercises being cost-efficient, relevant easy, applicable, and flexible for alleviating the fatigue in patients on
hemodialysis.
(Motedayen, Nehrir et al. 2014) Concluded in their study that the positive effects of exercise,
regarding performance time and method, on the improvement of the quality of life, reduction of cardiovascular
complications, mortality rate, depression, sleep, and fatigue has been documented clearly. In the study by
(Monera EL Shemy 2016) who reported that exercise-induced an overall diminution of physical and
psychological imprudent including the “will to live”, leading to positive expectations about the return to a
productive life.
(Lee, Chang et al. 2014) suggest that we can design exercise programs or set simple exercise
equipment's for uremia patients to enhance physical energy to enhance the sense of fatigue and well-being. In
view of this study’s results, it is recommended to organize education programs to increase self-efficacy levels of
dialysis patients and prepare complete plans including patients’ families. The consequences of study by (Lekha
2016) which about intradialytic stretching exercises on prevention and reduction of muscle cramps among
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Mona Mohamed Ibrahim. “Leg Exercise: Effect on Reducing Fatigue and Improving Activities
of Daily Living For Hemodialysis Patients.” IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science
(IOSR-JNHS) , vol. 7, no.3 , 2018, pp. 11-19.