OBJETCTIVE: To analyze the effects of a physiotherapeutic exercises protocol in chronic renal patients during hemodialysis therapy, aiming at improve their quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 27 patients, mean age 51 ± 10.5 years, mean body mass index of 24.3 ± 3.8 and submitted to hemodialysis treatment for approximately 50 ± 27.7 months. All patients signed a written informed consent form and, for three months, participated in a program of physiotherapy treatment during hemodialysis, composed by muscle stretching of lower limbs, upper limb (opposite to the arteriovenous fistula), lumbar and cervical muscle stretching (if patient did not present cervical catheter for dialysis); muscle strengthening of lower limbs and upper limb without vascular access, and relaxation. Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short Form Healthy Survey (SF-36) was applied before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, SF-36 test showed significant improvement of the following variables: functional capacity, level of pain, vitality and mental health. It was also observed that, before treatment, 10 patients reported muscle cramps, and after therapy, only 4 patients remained with this symptom. CONCLUSION: The performance of the physiotherapy during hemodialysis contributed to improve quality of life of chronic renal patients.
Chronic renal insufficiency; Hemodialysis; Physiotherapy
