Comparative Study Between Leg Massage and Vibration on Cramps and Comfort for Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

This planned randomized controlled trial will enroll 164 patients undergoing hemodialysis to compare the effectiveness of leg massage versus vibration therapy on muscle cramps and patient comfort. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a massage group receiving 20-minute lower extremity massage sessions, a vibration group receiving 10-minute vibration therapy, or a control group receiving standard care only. All interventions will be administered three times per week for two weeks (six sessions). The study will evaluate cramp frequency, cramp severity using a Visual Analog Scale, sleep quality through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and patient comfort scores. Both interventions are expected to significantly reduce cramp frequency and severity compared to standard care, with massage anticipated to show superior benefits for sleep quality and home-based cramp reduction, while vibration is expected to provide better immediate comfort during dialysis sessions. No serious adverse events are predicted. The findings will help healthcare providers offer personalized, evidence-based non-pharmacological options to improve quality of life for hemodialysis patients.