EFFECT OF INTRADIALYTIC THERAPEUTIC EXERCISES AND ELECTRICAL STIMULATION ON LEG FUNCTIONAL ABILITY, DIALYSIS EFFICACY AND INTRADIALYTIC HYPOTENSION IN PATIENTS ON CHRONIC HEMODIALYSIS.

Chronic inflammation and protein energy malnutrition in patients on hemodialysis lead to decrease in muscle mass and impaired functional ability. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of a combination of electrical stimulation (ES) with intradialytic therapeutic exercises on dialysis efficacy, ar- terial blood pressure, and functional ability of lower extremities. The study involved 35 patients who were on chronic hemodialysis. The study consisted of two phases. During the first month, no intervention was performed. It was followed by a therapeutic program combining intradialytic resistance exercises with ES on quadriceps muscle, which was performed 3 times a week for 3 months. Functional tests for lower extremity and body composition analysis were obtained at baseline and at the end of the study. Arterial pressure, dialysis efficacy and laboratory parameters were monitored. Functional tests showed significant improvement after the intervention. A significant positive correlation was found in patients who had shown improvement in functional tests, with less intradialytic episodes of hypotension and improvement in dialysis efficacy. This study found a positive effect of combining resistance exercises and ES on dialysis efficacy and functional ability of lower extremities in patients on chronic hemodialysis.