Impacts of massage therapy during hemodialysis sessions on patients’ quality of life and physical fitness: Pilot Study
Research Abstract
Background: The benefit of massage therapy in reducing stress, pain and depression in chronic diseases, however studies have
shown the uses of massage therapy in dialysis patient can relieve purities and significantly improve anxiety levels. The Saudi
Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) highlights approximately 11437 patients on hemodialysis therapy in Saudi Arabia.
Aim: To evaluate impact of massage therapy during hemodialysis session on QoL and physical fitness.
Methods: The study involved 16 patients with end stage renal disease who were undergoing hemodialysis treatment. They
were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. The control group received only standard care
for hemodialysis patients for eight weeks while the experimental group received massage therapy during the same period.
Assessments were conducted on the participants both at the beginning of the study and at the end of the eight weeks treatment
period. Researchers used the physical fitness scale and KDQoL-SF 36. The scores of the participants at the start of the study were
compared to their scores at the end of the study.
Results: The pre-post physical fitness practice of intervention sessions’ activities among patients in the two groups, the significant
differences were in the Chair (seconds), Arm curl (seconds), Chair sit & reach (cm), 8-foot up & go (count) and 2-min step test
(count). Regarding to blood pressure and pulse changes, blood flow and session duration among patients in the two groups the
systolic blood pressure was decrease and pulse, session duration and blood follow were increased. More interestingly the post
KDQoL-SF the sleep pattern was improved with massage therapy and reported patient satisfaction.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, researchers of the study reached the conclusion that the massage therapy can effectively
benefit on patients’ QoL and physical fitness; therefore can be integrated in the standard care given to such patients.
Research Keywords
renal disease,massage therapy ,dialysis