The effect of exercise training on fatigue and sleep quality in patients with chronic venous insufficiency

Yiğit, S. The Effect of Exercise Training on Fatigue and Sleep Quality in Patients with Chronic Venous Insufficiency, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Institute of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, Master Thesis, Gaziantep 2018. Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a venous system disease that involves symptoms such as pain in the legs, nocturnal cramps, edema, itchiness, fatigue, and highly prevalent in the community. In the literature, there are many symptom-reducing methods besides medical and surgical treatment of CVI. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of exercise training on leg fatigue, nocturnal cramps and sleep quality in patients with CVI. Forty-two patients with CVI diagnosed were participated in this study, treatment and control groups were divided into 2 groups of 21 patients. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to determine severity of cramping, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) to determine severity of fatigue, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to determine sleep quality in both groups at the beginning of the study. The treatment group was given stretching and strengthening exercises for the lower extremity for 6 weeks. Control group were not get any exercise training. At the end of 6 weeks VAS, FSS and PSQI were reapplied and values were recorded. Results indicated that the cramps and fatigue severity decreased and sleep quality increased at the treatment group patients (p<0,05). Cramping and fatigue severity increased and sleep quality decreased at the control group patients (p>0,05). This study shows that exercise training improved sleep quality by reducing the severity of nocturnal cramping and reduced fatigue in the legs. In the light of these results, directing CVI patients to a regular exercise program is an alternative treatment method for reducing the symptoms related to the disease.