Comparison of Contrast Bath Therapy and Ankle Pump Exercises on Edema Reduction in Kidney Failure Patients at Sembiring Deli Tua General Hospital in 2026

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive and irreversible decline in renal function that results in disturbances of fluid and electrolyte balance, one of them is peripheral edema. Management of edema can be achieved through non-pharmacological nursing interventions such as contrast bath therapy and ankle pump exercises. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of contrast bath therapy and ankle pump exercises in reducing edema among patients with chronic kidney disease at Sembiring Deli Tua General Hospital in 2026. A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test two-group design was employed. The sample consisted of 34 respondents, divided into two groups: 17 respondents received contrast bath therapy and 17 respondents received ankle pump exercises. Data were analyzed by using the paired samples t test with a significance level of α = 0.05. The results showed that prior to the intervention, the majority of respondents in the contrast bath group experienced severe edema (64.7%), while 76.5% of respondents in the ankle pump group also experienced severe edema. After the intervention, edema in the contrast bath group decreased to moderate (52.9%) and mild categories (47.1%). In contrast, the ankle pump group demonstrated a greater reduction, with 88.2% of respondents experiencing mild edema and 11.8% showing no edema. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in edema reduction between the two groups (p < 0.05). It is concluded that there was a significant difference between contrast bath therapy and ankle pump exercises in reducing edema among patients with chronic kidney disease. Ankle pump exercises were more effective in patients with CKD, whereas contrast bath therapy was more appropriate for reducing edema in patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).