Motor Skills Testing in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Overview

Background.
During chronic renal failure, number of complex metabolic and endocrinal changes in organism can develop, which in consequence lead to an inception of associate complications and in principle change the activity of all organ systems. Functional capacity of the chronically dialysed patients is limited, muscle strength is decreased, joint mobility is limited and the muscular imbalance is frequently found. According to the recent literature, an acceptable choice of exercise activity could contribute to prevention of disturbances and improve the patient’s status. An essential part of each exercise program for these patients is an acceptable motor tests battery (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). The aim of our study was to choose an acceptable motor tests battery, which should target such components of motor performance, whose certain rate is necessary for self-sufficiency keeping and perform activities of daily living. 

Methods and Results.
We observed mixed group of 23 patients. For evaluation of the functional condition we used the „Senior Fitness Test Manual“ (8), which measures these physical attributes: muscle strength, physical endurance, flexibility, agility and balance. The input results we compared with population standard specification used in the test battery. Results of the tests showed that the group of patients in comparison with the population standard specification have reached subnormal and risk performances, especially in tests requiring for its implementation muscular strength of lower extremities and physical efficiency. Normal and above normal performances we observed in patients that were physically active before and during regular dialysis treatment. 

Conclusions.
After the evaluation of result, we consider the selected battery of motor tests as an acceptable choice for motor skills testing in renal dialysed patients all age categories. 

Key words:
chronic renal failure, motor tests, functional status of the moving system, self-sufficiency.