Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To investigate the preventive and therapeutic efficacy of intradialytic bicycle exercise on restless legs syndrome (RLS) among uremic patients. Methods A total of 60 maintenance hemodialysis patients treated in the period from October 2018 to June 2019 were randomly divided into control(n=30) and exercise groups (n=30). Patients in control group treated with the basic dialysis management without any exercise intervention, while those in exercise group underwent an intradialytic bicycle exercise program of 12 weeks. Within the first 2 hours of hemodialysis sessions, the patients exercised supinely on a bicycle each for 20 minutes and 3 times together. The IRLS international restless legs syndrome study group rating scale (IRLS), 5 times sit-to-stand test(ST-5) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were used to evaluate symptom of RLS, muscle force of lower limbs and sleeping quality before and after the intervention in both groups. Results In control group, the scores of ST-5 (16.46±0.25 vs. 17.80±0.33, t=3.338, P=0.002) was significantly increased, and the scores of IRLS (18.77± 1.12 vs. 20.73±1.00, t=1.314, P=0.194) and PSQI (14.57±0.39 vs. 15.50±0.31, t=1.878, P=0.065) had no differences compared to the basal levels. In exercise group after the intradialytic exercise intervention, the scores of IRLS (19.27 ± 0.96 vs. 14.87 ± 0.79,t=3.530,P=0.001),ST- 5 (16.61 ± 0.27 vs. 14.21 ± 0.28,t=6.093,P=0.000) and PSQI(14.13 ± 0.50 vs. 9.93 ± 0.43,t=6.377,P=0.014) decreased significantly. Conclusion The exercise program relieves the symptom of RLS, enhances the muscle force of lower limbs, improves the sleeping quality, and prevents RLS development. Therefore, this method can be used clinically.

Key words: Uremia, Hemodialysis, Restless legs syndrome, Kinesitherapy