A Primary Health Care Approach to Exercise in Dialysis: A Pilot Study
Aims: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if an intradialytic group exercise program for haemodialysis patients could improve Quality of Life (QoL) and encourage non-hospital physical activity.
Methods: An exercise program using ankle weights, hand held exercise balls, therapeutic putty and stress balls was pilotted. Exercises consisted of neck mobility, marching on the spot (sitting down), manipulating putty, upper and lower limb flexibility exercise with ribbons on a stick, upper and lower limb strengthening exercises and throwing stress balls into buckets. Exercise sessions were run for 30 minutes during dialysis treatment over a 12 week period. QoL was measured by SF-12 (Short Form) Index and Ferrans and Powers Dialysis Index Version – III. In addition, a formal evaluation questionnaire was undertaken which was intended to measure potential primary health care benefits.
Results: Ferrans & Powers Index indicated an upward trend in heath and functioning (+3), psychological/spiritual (+1) and family (+1) domains. Overall QoL trended upwards (+1). 80% of patients stated they had noticed a difference in the way they feel reporting that they felt they had more energy. 60% of participants reported doing more exercises at home. No participant reported joining external exercise groups or programs as a result of the intervention.
Conclusions: An intradialytic group exercise program can be fun and can potentially improve health and functioning domain of Quality of Life and can encourage dialysis patients to exercise more at home. Further research is required to validate this pilot study with a larger study population.