Background: Sleep disturbance and anxiety are more common observed in
hemodialysis patients than in healthy people and affect patients' clinical outcomes. Aim:
determine the effect of muscle stretching and range of motion exercises on sleep quality and
anxiety among hemodialysis patients. Design: A quasi experimental research design (pre
posttest control group) was employed. Setting: The study was accomplished at the
hemodialysis unit at El Fayoum General Hospital. The unit worked three shifts per day /week
expect Friday. Subjects: specific eligibility criteria were applied to purposively select a
sample of 60 adult patients/both genders on maintenance hemodialysis. They further were
partitioned into two groups 30 patients in each (study and control groups). Tools: three tools
were handled: A structured interview questionnaire, The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
(PSQI) Scale and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale/STAI: Results: a
statistically significant difference was observed between the study and control groups in favor
of the former concerning the Global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) score and anxiety
level after 6 weeks of intervention in which more than half (60.0%) in the study group have
no difficulty comparing to more than three quarters(76.7%) in the control group had somewhat
difficulty with P = 0 .00. Also 70.0% in the study group had mild anxiety while, in the control
group 53.3% had moderate anxiety. Conclusion: The study concluded that; muscle stretching
and range of motion exercises have significant positive effect on sleep quality and anxiety
level among patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Recommendation: The developed
booklet with its simple instructions and illustrations should be utilized in hemodialysis unit as
a teaching aid for hemodialysis patients. Intradialytic exercise programs should be
incorporated into routine clinical practice.