Title of the article: Tai-Chi versus stretching exercises to manage fatigue in patients receiving haemodialysis: A double-blind randomized clinical trial

Fatigue is one of the common and debilitating complications of haemodialysis. The purpose of this study was tocompare the effect of stretching exercises (SE) and Tai-Chi (TC) on fatigue in patients receiving hemodialysis.Materials and methods: A double-blind randomized clinical trial was undertaken with ۴۲ eligible patientsreceiving unit hemodialysis in Iran. Patients were randomly assigned to the first intervention (I۱) (n=۱۴), secondintervention (I۲) (n=۱۴) and control (C) (n=۱۴) group. The standard Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI)was completed at baseline and after ۶ weeks else. In I۱ group SE were performed for ۶ weeks and included ۱۸sessions for ۴۰ to ۶۰ minutes. In I۲ group TC was offered over ۶ weeks and ۱۸ sessions (۴۰ to ۶۰ minutes) wereperformed. During this period, the C group did not receive any training. Finally, the data were analyzed withSPSS Ver. ۱۶ using descriptive and inferential statistics. * χ۲, independent t-test and paired t-test were used fordata analysis.Results: At baseline there was no significant difference in fatigue score between the three groups (p>۰.۰۵). Postinterventionthe fatigue score in the intervention groups was significantly lower than the control group. (p<۰.۰۵).Although the fatigue score decreased in both intervention groups, this decrease was more significant in I۱ than I۲(p=۰.۰۱).Conclusions: SE and TC reduced fatigue in patients receiving hemodialysis in this study. Therefore, consideringthe simplicity, safety, and cost-effectiveness of these methods, it is suggested they are implemented for use inhemodialysis units.

کلیدواژه ها:

Stretching exercises ، Tai-Chi ، Fatigue ، Haemodialysis ، Chronic renal failure