Regular exercise improves muscle function, helps control blood pressure, lowers cholesterol and increases quality of sleep.
Despite the multiple benefits, many chronic kidney disease patients do not exercise enough due to concerns regarding what type of exercise they can do, how often they should exercise and how to create a fitness schedule.
This month, the National Kidney Foundation answers 7 common fitness questions from CKD patients.
What types of exercise can I do?
Choose continuous activity such as walking, swimming, bicycling (indoors or out), skiing, aerobic dancing or any other activities in which you need to move large muscle groups continuously.
Low-level strengthening exercises may also be beneficial as part of your program. Design your program to use low weights and high repetitions, and avoid heavy lifting.
One simple way to exercise and help many others with CKD is to join a local Kidney Walk
How often and for how long should I exercise for?
Exercise at least three days a week. These should be non-consecutive days, for example, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Three days a week is the minimum requirement to achieve the benefits of your exercise. Work toward 30-minute sessions. Remember to build up gradually to this level.
Can I take part in vigorous physical activity?
Yes. In the past, it was thought that people with kidney disease would not be able to join in vigorous activity. We know now that patients who decide to follow an exercise program are stronger and have more energy.
How hard should I work while exercising?
This is the most difficult to talk about without knowing your own exercise capacity. Usually, the following ideas are helpful:
Your breathing should not be so hard that you cannot talk with someone exercising with you. Try to get an exercise partner such as a family member or a friend.
You should feel completely normal within one hour after exercising. If not, slow down next time.
You should not feel so much muscle soreness that it keeps you from exercising the next session.
The intensity should be a "comfortable push" level. Start out slowly each session to warm up, then pick up your pace, then slow down again when you are about to finish. The most important thing is to start slowly and progress gradually, allowing your body to adapt to the increased levels of activity.
When should I exercise?
Try to schedule your exercise into your normal day. Here are some ideas about when to exercise:
Wait one hour after a large meal
Avoid the very hot times of the day
Morning or evening seems to be the best time for exercising
Do not exercise less than an hour before bedtime
When should I stop exercising?
You should stop exercising if you feel any of the following:
Very tired
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Irregular or rapid heart beats
Sick to your stomach
Leg cramps
Dizzy or light-headed
Are there any times when I should not exercise?
Yes. You should not exercise without talking with your doctor if any of the following occurs:
You have a fever
You have changed your dialysis schedule
You have changed your medicine schedule
Your physical condition has changed
You have eaten too much
The weather is very hot and humid
You have joint or bone problems that become worse with exercise
If you stop exercising for any of these reasons, speak to your doctor before beginning again.
Johansen KL, Chertow GM, Kutner NG, Dalrymple LS, Grimes BA, Kaysen GA.
[1] Medical Service, Nephrology Section, San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA [2] Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Zasuwa G, Frinak S, Besarab A, Peterson E, Yee J.
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan.
Although monitoring of vascular accesses by physical examination is nearly as sensitive as surveillance measurements by vascular access pressure when performed by examiners, the frequency of examinations is limited by time.
We developed intravascular access pressure surveillance as a surrogate to physical examination. Using real-time data from hemodialysis machines, we derived intravascular access pressure ratios for each dialytic procedure. An automated, noninvasive surveillance algorithm that generated a "warning" list of patients at risk for thrombosis was formulated.
We hypothesized that this algorithm would reduce access thrombosis frequency. We designed a study comparing thrombosis rates during a baseline 6-month interval to three subsequent 6-month periods of active surveillance.
Referrals for interventions during this 18-month period were based on persistently abnormal elevated vascular access pressure ratio tests (VAPRT) >0.55.
Thrombosis rates declined progressively for arteriovenous grafts (AVG) during the intervention period compared with the baseline period.
Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) thrombosis rates decreased during postintervention months 13-18 during employment of the VAPRT.
We conclude that use of VAPRT can reduce thrombosis rates in vascular accesses, and the magnitude of the effect is larger and more consistent in arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) than autologous AVFs.
Hemodialysis | Kidney Disease | Dialysis Resources and Educational Materials
100 Q&A About Kidney Disease and Hypertension
Raymond R. Townsend, MD
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney failure. Each year, high blood pressure causes more than 25,000 new cases of kidney failure in the United States. 100 Questions & Answers About Kidney Disease and Hypertension offers authoritative, up-to-date, practical answers about kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, transplants, and dialysis. The book is an invaluable resource for anyone coping with the physical and emotional turmoil of this condition.
Handbook of Dialysis Therapy
Here's an in-depth, quick-reference, problem-solving resource for those involved in the care of dialysis patients. More than 120 world-class authorities discuss dialysis techniques, mechanical considerations, and complications related to various diseases for both pediatric and adult patients. Selected annotated references and excellent cross-referencing between chapters help you find answers fast, and more than 100 photos, drawings, charts, and tables, mostly in color, clarify complex topics. Providing practical, immediately useful guidelines that can be applied directly to patient care, this book is a "must-have" for all dialysis caregivers.
Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Secrets Study Guide: CHT Test Review for the Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam
Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Secrets helps you ace the Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam, without weeks and months of endless studying. Our comprehensive Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Secrets study guide is written by our exam experts.....
Dialysis and Hemodialysis Book and Descriptions from Amazon.com
Please visit the Hemodialysis.com Google Ad Sponsors
The information on Hemodialysis is for informational purposes only and is not intended as specific medical advice or to be a substitute for medical advice from your physician or health care provider. Please check with a physician if you need a diagnosis and/or for treatments as well as information regarding your specific condition.
Please read Medical Disclaimer as term of condition for usage of this website.
If you are experiencing urgent medical conditions, call 9-1-1
Copyright 2010 EminentDomains.com®. All Rights Reserved.
Our Success is Linked to Your Success®