STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF HATHA YOGA EXERCISES ON DIALYSIS ADEQUACY

Aims: Despite the significant progress achieved in hemodialysis patients during recent decades, dialysis adequacy is still less than the normal level. Therefore, the present study has been performed to investigate the effect of Hatha Yoga exercises on dialysis adequacy among hemodialysis patients. Methods: The present two-grouped semi-experimental controlled trial was conducted on 31 hemodialysis patients from Shahid Labbafinejad hospital as the control and 31 condition-mat ched patients from Baqiatallah hospital as the case group, for whom the modified Hatha Yoga exercises were performed after the initial training by the yoga instructor for one hour twice a week during two months. Dialysis adequacy was evaluated using Daugirdas II formula before and after the intervention in both groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 statistical software, descriptive statistics, paired t-test and chi square. Results: The study results showed significant increase in dialysis adequacy among hemodialysis patients (p<0.001). The mean dialysis adequacy was respectively 0.96 (±0.23) and 1.14 (±0.22) (p<0.001) before and after the intervention in the case and 1.3 (±0.26) and 1.31 (±0.25) (p<0.09) in the control group. Conclusion: Given the significant increase in dialysis adequacy following the Hahta Yoga exercises, training simple skills of Hatha Yoga is recommended for this group of patients as well as patients with other chronic disorders.