Effectiveness of Lower Extremity Exercise and Hydration on Orthostatic Hypotension Among Patients With Schizophrenia in Psychiatric Hospital: A Quasiexperimental Study

Background

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common adverse effect of antipsychotic therapy and represents a significant patient safety concern in psychiatric nursing practice due to its association with falls and cardiovascular instability. Nurse-led, nonpharmacological interventions may offer feasible strategies to manage this condition in inpatient mental health settings. Although nonpharmacological interventions such as hydration and lower limb exercise have shown effectiveness in managing OH in older adults and neurological populations, evidence in psychiatric inpatients remains limited. Patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotics present unique physiological and behavioral challenges, including medication-induced autonomic dysfunction, low physical activity, and inconsistent fluid intake. To date, no quasiexperimental study has evaluated the comparative and combined effects of lower extremity exercise and hydration in this specific population.