Effect of Legs Strength Exercises on Activities of Daily Living and Physical Fitness in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Abstract Background Hemodialysis serves as a main treatment method for these patients. It results in several complications like decreased activities of daily living and physical fitness. Legs strength exercises are an effective method to improving activities of daily living and physical fitness. Methods A purposive (non-probability) sample consists of 137 patients selected from patients with CKD who are undergoing HD and who were treated in Habib Ibn-Mudaher center and hemodialysis wards of Imam Al-Hassan Al-Mujtaba hospital in Holy Kerbala. The data were collected through interview using two scales that are socio-demographic and clinical data Questionnaire, Bristol activities of daily living and International Fitness Scale. Data were analyzed and interpreted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) application version 26.0. Results the study group revealed a significant improving in activities daily living, with mean scores increase from 46.18 (SD = 4.914) in the pre-test to 76.85 (SD = 3.175) in the post-test. Conversely, control group's showed no improvement, with the mean scores remaining nearly constant 42.07, SD = 8.814 pretest and 41.44, SD = 8.694 posttest. The physical fitness in the experimental group increased the mean score from 9.34 (SD = 2.363) in the pretest to 20.90 (SD = 2.329) in the posttest. on the other hand, the control the mean score decrease slightly from 8.05 (SD = 2.544) in the pretest to 7.79 (SD = 2.578) in the posttest. Conclusion legs strength exercises were beneficial in improving activities daily living and boosting physical fitness in patients undergoing hemodialysis.