Simple massage and stretching tested for dialysis cramps
NCT ID NCT06759376
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026 · Updated 5 times
Summary
This study tested whether a 10-minute vibration massage or static stretching exercise could reduce the severity and duration of muscle cramps that often occur during hemodialysis. Thirty adults with chronic kidney disease on dialysis were randomly assigned to receive vibration massage, stretching, or usual care. Researchers also measured salivary cortisol levels to see if these interventions lowered stress. The goal is to find a safe, non-drug way to manage these painful cramps.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- vibration massage and static stretching exercise
- What this could lead to
- If effective, these simple techniques could offer drug-free relief from painful muscle cramps during dialysis and help reduce stress.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, completed trial with only 30 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The interventions are short-term and may not work for all cramp types.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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30 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2025
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age and over, conscious, Turkish speaking and understanding, accepting the research, * Patients with normal body mass index (18.5-24.9) \[Since body mass can affect the distribution of vibration and cortisol level, it was planned to include patients with normal body mass index in the sample\]. * Patients with intradialytic muscle cramp in the lower extremities will be included \[Although intradialytic cramp often occurs in the lower extremities, vibration massage and static stretching exercise will be applied to the same muscle group (gastrocnemius and soleus muscles) in the lower extremities to keep the variables under control\]. Exclusion Criteria: * Intradialytic muscle cramps in the upper extremity, * Intradialytic muscle cramps, those with incomplete tissue integrity in the region and thrombophlebitis, hematoma, etc. \[In order for vibration massage to be performed, individuals must have skin integrity and normal blood characteristics.\] * Those with foot deformation, * Those who use anti-inflammatory, analgesic drugs and those who additionally use adjuvant therapy (antidepressants, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, etc.) up to 4 hours before the HD session, as intradialytic muscle cramps and their duration may be affected, * Those who are taking routine cortisone treatment and medications with hormonal effects (oral contraceptives, steroid-containing bronchodilators, etc.) so that the salivary cortisol test is not affected. --Alcohol users, * Hypoglycemic patients, * Patients with psychiatric diagnosis and those using medication related to this diagnosis, * Patients with mouth ulcers, inflammation, etc. * Patients who ate or drank anything other than water, chewed gum, or consumed foods or beverages containing citric acid 15 minutes before intradialytic muscle cramping, * Patients who use high doses of biotin (\>5 mg/day) and whose last biotin treatment has not passed 8 hours.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Private Anatolian Dialysis Center
Eskişehir, Turkiye, Turkey (Türkiye)
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