An interventional study of Muscle Energy Technique and Routine Medical Treatment and Hemodialysis in Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and End-Stage Renal Disease, sponsored by Cairo University. Completed at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 55 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-05.
Sponsored by Cairo University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if intra-dialytic Muscle Energy Technique (MET) can reduce symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving maintenance hemodialysis. The study also aims to learn if this treatment can improve sleep quality, muscle strength, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Researchers compared people who received intra-dialytic Muscle Energy Technique together with routine medical treatment and hemodialysis with people who received routine medical treatment and hemodialysis alone to find out whether adding Muscle Energy Technique provides greater benefits.
Participants:
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder among people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving maintenance hemodialysis. The condition is associated with sleep disturbances, reduced physical function, and impaired quality of life. Although medications are commonly used to manage RLS, symptoms may persist despite treatment, highlighting the need for effective non-pharmacological interventions.
This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of intra-dialytic Muscle Energy Technique (MET) as an adjunct to routine medical treatment and maintenance hemodialysis for reducing RLS symptoms. The study compared routine medical treatment and maintenance hemodialysis alone with the same treatment combined with intra-dialytic Muscle Energy Technique to determine whether the additional intervention improved clinical outcomes.
248 studies on the registry are indexed under Restless Legs Syndrome; 39 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 60 is above the median of 53 across 196 interventional studies indexed under Restless Legs Syndrome.
Browse Restless Legs Syndrome studies →Cairo University is the lead sponsor of 4,780 studies on the registry; 1,427 are open to participants now.
Of its 36 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (14%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants received intra-dialytic Muscle Energy Technique (MET) for 20 minutes during the second hour of maintenance hemodialysis, three sessions per week for eight weeks, in addition to routine medical treatment and hemodialysis.
Procedure: Muscle Energy Technique
Participants received routine medical treatment and maintenance hemodialysis without additional physical therapy intervention.
Other: Routine Medical Treatment and Hemodialysis
Intra-dialytic Muscle Energy Technique (MET) was performed for 20 minutes during the second hour of maintenance hemodialysis, three sessions per week for eight weeks.
Also known as: MET
Routine medical treatment and maintenance hemodialysis without additional physical therapy intervention.
Restless Leg Syndrome Severity
Assessed using the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) Rating Scale. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Sleep Quality
Assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Total score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality.
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Calf and Hamstring muscles strength
Handheld Dynamometer: Muscle strength was measured in kilograms (kg). Higher values indicate greater muscle strength.
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Systolic and diastolic Blood Pressure
Measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer, was measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) Lower values indicate better blood pressure control
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Oxygen Saturation
Measured using a pulse oximeter was measured as a percentage (%). Higher values indicate better oxygen saturation
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because this study was conducted as part of a master's degree research project, and no plan for public data sharing has been established.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Cairo University