Upper extremity functions and physical activity in chronic maintenance hemodialysis patients: A case-control study

Continuous hemodialysis (HD) treatment causes many complications in patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the upper extremity functional capacity, physical activity level, and physical functions of patients receiving continuous HD treatment. Fifty HD patients and fifty healthy subjects were included in the study. Hand grip strength with Dynamometer, range of motion of upper extremity with Digital Goniometer, functional level of the upper extremity with the Turkish version of the Shoulder, Arm, and Hand Problems Questionnaire (The DASH-T), physical activity levels with international physical activity questionnaire short form and physical functions with the human activity profile (HAP) were evaluated. The mean grip strength of the subjects in the control group was 23.3 ± 1.44 kg, while the mean grip strength of the HD patients with fistula was 15.75 ± 3.08 kg (P < .05). In all joint range of motion measurements; the values of HD patients were significantly lower than the control group (P < .05). The DASH symptom scores of the individuals in the HD group (mean 19.19 ± 1.41) were significantly higher than the control group (mean 5.75 ± 1.41) (P < .05). The number of individuals with low-level activity in the HD group (72%) was higher than the control group (34%) (P < .01). The maximum activity score score of the HAP (mean 68.7 ± 1.4) and the adjusted activity score of the HAP (mean 42.54 ± 3.02) were lower in the HD group (P < .0001). HD treatment adversely affects hand grip strength, the range of motion, upper extremity functions, physical activity, and physical function levels of the patients.