Effectiveness of muscle stretching exercise on quality of life of hemodialysis patients

Background Chronic kidney disease is a disease affecting both kidneys in which progressive, irreversible destruction of the renal tissues occurs. This leads to an alteration of the metabolic function of the kidneys due to the destruction of the nephrons. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a structured muscle stretching exercise program on quality of life among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Patients and methods We recruited 60 prevalent hemodialysis patients. Patients with a history of orthopedic or psychological problems were excluded. Also, patients who were critically ill or had a prior history of dopamine receptor antagonists, benzodiazepines, opioids, or anticonvulsants were excluded. Informed consent was obtained from all participants before enrollment in the study. All methods correspond to the STROBE statement for a cross-sectional study. Results In our study, we applied the regular exercise programs for 6 months after each session and then administered the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire Short Form questionnaire again after completion of the exercises. We found a slight increase in the quality of life in all domains. This increase was more evident, especially in the burden of kidney disease domain, in which the median increased from 0 (0–12.5) to 6.25 (0–12.5), and physical component symptoms, in which the mean increased from 6.25±5.8 to 8.13±5.1 postexercise. However, none of those changes was statistically significant ( P =0.236 and 0.510), respectively. Conclusion Regular physical exercises are considered the most useful nonpharmacological alternative for improving quality of life and preventing dialysis-induced complications such as impaired muscle catabolism and the sensation of chronic fatigue.