Non-Pharmacological Methods and Night Leg Cramps among Patients Having Varicose Veins
louka, seham; Sherief Essam; Howyda A. Mohamed; Soad M. Hegazy,;
Abstract
Abstract: Aim: This study aims to investigate the effect of non-pharmacological methods on night leg cramps among patients having varicose veins. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used in the conduction of this study that was conducted in the Out-patients clinics at El-Demerdash Surgical Hospital, which is affiliated to Ain Shams University. Sample: A purposive sample included 80 adult and old age patients from both genders with varicose veins and have developed night leg cramps. Tools: 1) Patients, interviewing questionnaires to assess the knowledge about night leg cramps and non-pharmacological methods. 2) Calf - stretching exercises record. 3) Diet regimen record. 4) Patients, condition assessment sheet: A)Outcome measures to identify number, duration and severity of leg cramps and sleep disturbances and B) Symptoms development. Results: More than half of the studied patients had unsatisfactory knowledge in pre-test, added to poor levels of exercises and diet regimen. Moreover mixed group (calf - stretching exercises and diet regimen, added to traditional treatment) had the highest improvement in post-tests regarding cramps frequency and persisting symptoms, as well as outcome measures and symptoms development. Conclusion: Non-pharmacological methods (calf - stretching exercises and diet regimen) in combination with traditional treatment could be used to reduce night leg cramps among patients having varicose veins. Recommendation: Further studies are needed to elucidate the effect of other therapeutic measures on preventing night leg cramps.
Other data
| Title | Non-Pharmacological Methods and Night Leg Cramps among Patients Having Varicose Veins | Authors | louka, seham ; Sherief Essam ; Howyda A. Mohamed ; Soad M. Hegazy, | Keywords | Non-pharmacological methods (calf – stretching exercises and diet regimen) - night leg cramps with varicose veins | Issue Date | 2013 | Publisher | Soad Mahmoud | Source | http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork | Journal | New York Science Journal | Series/Report no. | 6;3 | Description | Night leg cramps and varicose veins are common lower extremity symptoms. It has been suggested that limb circulation may be disturbed in patients with muscle cramps due to leg venous insufficiency. Muscle cramps (or charley horse) occur as a result of the stimulation of reflex and through hyper excitation of the motor neurons in any leg nerve or in spinal cord, added to, is a strong, painful contraction or tightening of a muscle that comes on suddenly and lasts from a few seconds to several minutes and often occurs in the legs. Night leg cramps can be defined as involuntary, painful, sudden contractions of muscles, usually in the calf but also in other areas of the leg and commonly disrupt sleep. It is caused by sudden contraction of gastrocnemius or sole- us muscle, with the foot in a passively planter flexed position, from which involved muscles shorten beyond the physiologic limit into a painful cramps. Moreover, when muscle cramping is corrected, it often lets up within days/weeks |
ISSN | ISSN: 1554-0200 |
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