Exercise while on kidney dialysis is beneficial

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Patients who take sitting exercise while on kidney dialysis are more mobile later on.
Dialysis, which takes over the job of the kidneys in cleansing the blood, can be lifesaving for those with kidney failure. However, it does also tend to break down protein within the muscle fiber, which causes patients to become weak and lose their mobility. Doctors at the University of Virginia Health System now report upon the Sit Fit program, one of the few available which helps patients have the opportunity to do exercise while they are on dialysis.

The system is like an exercise bike, which makes the patient pedal and improves their mobility afterwards. With one patient, who did not have the strength to even lift up her legs, the exercise program meant she was able to walk away from the dialysis after a few months. Clearly there is much to be gained by having patients on kidney dialysis take some form of regular exercise.

Source
University of Virginia Health System 13th March 2007

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