A Study of the Effectiveness of Stretching Exercises in Alleviating Muscle Spasm in Patients with Pulmonary Edema

Abstract

Patients with pulmonary edema are generally very weak and most of them need to be bedridden. However, it is unrealistic for these patients to improve leg cramps through exercise. Stretching is known as a simple and effective strategy for relieving muscle tension and muscle cramps. The purpose of this study was to assess the intensity and frequency of muscle spasms in patients with pulmonary edema and to evaluate the effectiveness of stretching exercises in treating muscle spasms. Thirty patients with pulmonary edema associated with muscle spasm were studied. The patient underwent muscle stretching exercises for three 10-minute, 8-hour sessions. Results The pretest score was higher than the posttest score, indicating that stretching exercise was effective in reducing the intensity of muscle spasm in patients with pulmonary edema. Such exercise programs are recommended to improve the quality of care.