www.sciedu.ca/jnep Journal of Nursing Education and Practice 2015, Vol. 5, No. 11 ORIGINAL RESEARCH Effect of intradialytic exercise on fatigue, electrolytes level and blood pressure in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial Hanan Mohamed Mohamed Soliman * Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, El Mansoura, Egypt Received: April 11, 2015 Accepted: July 8, 2015 Online Published: August 12, 2015 DOI: 10.5430/jnep.v5n11p16 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v5n11p16 ABSTRACT Background: Hemodialysis is a physically stressful procedure and most of the patients will have fatigue and thereby an alteration in the electrolytes, hemoglobin level. Physical Exercises provided during Hemodialysis session do not cost patients extra time and will be effective in reducing fatigue level and enhancing potential for performing their activities of daily living & may increase the waste removal. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the impact of an eight-week Intradialytic Range of Motion Exercise program (consisting of 15 minutes low-intensity exercise during the first 2 hours of Hemodialysis) on Fatigue, electrolytes levels, Hemoglobin and Blood pressure. Methods: A randomized controlled pre test post test design was utilized in this study in a hemodialysis unit, a total of 30 hemodialysis patients were enrolled into the study and randomly allocated into two groups. The experimental (The exercise group) (n = 18) and the control group (n = 12). Range of Motion Exercises were done in the experimental group for 15 min/day, three times a week for 2 months. Fatigue was measured via a Iowa Fatigue Scale (IFS) and Physiologic Parameters Form to measure serum electrolyte level, hemoglobin and blood pressure pre and post as well as at the end of each month after the intervention in both groups. Results: After an 8-week of Intradialytic Range of Motion Exercises program, a significant reduction were seen in fatigue level, serum phosphate and potassium, calcium, urea, creatinine and a slight increase in hemoglobin level. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure changed significantly in the exercise group (p < .05). Conclusions: A simplified physical exercise program may be considered as a safe, and effective clinical nursing modality in patients with end-stage renal disease on Hemodialysis. Key Words: Intradialytic exercise, Hemodialysis, Electrolytes levels, Fatigue, Blood pressure 1. I NTRODUCTION Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a very important epidemic and public health problem that occurs in many countries with an increasing prevalence. [1] Over 50 million individual throughout the world are known to have CKD and of those, over one million need renal replacement therapies such as dialysis and renal transplantation. In recent years, increasing the incidence of D.M and hypertension, the foremost com- mon two reasons of CKD, have caused an increase in the prevalence of CKD. [2] End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is an expensive and disabling condition with a high mortality rate. ESRD, in 2006, costs reached to $23 billion, > 6% * Correspondence: Hanan Mohamed Mohamed Soliman; Email: hanansoliman697@ymail.com; Address: Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, El Mansoura, Egypt. 16 ISSN 1925-4040 E-ISSN 1925-4059