Patients often ask whether they can exercise while undergoing dialysis. The answer is yes, with permission of your physician. Staying as fi t as possible reduces the likelihood of hospitalizations and improves quality of life. It is a natural mood elevator and can help relieve the depression that can accompany dialysis dependency.
Since patients on dialysis often are at an increased risk for cardiovascular problems, the heart-healthy benefi ts of exercise are particularly welcome. Regular exercise can result in lower blood pressure and lower blood fats and cholesterol. Flexibility and stretching exercises help make moving easier. And the stronger your muscles are, the better balance you’ll have, lessening the likelihood of debilitating falls.
High-intensity exercise is not necessary or desirable; low- to moderate-intensity is best. In fact, you should be able to converse comfortably during a workout—if you cannot, you are working too hard and should stop. Other signs that you should stop immediately include shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain or excessive fatigue.
Some physicians maintain that exercising during dialysis sessions—up to 30 minutes at a stretch, often much less at first—is better than exercising at other times. Immediately after dialysis, when patients sometimes experience a drained feeling, would not be an ideal window in which to exercise.
Some research indicates that exercising during dialysis increases the efficacy of the procedure itself. In one study, for instance, those patients who used an exercise bike or mini-stepper while undergoing dialysis experienced enhanced removal of the toxin urea from their blood. Compared with patients who were not exercising, their urea levels were 20% lower.
Personal preference is key, however. You should exercise when you feel most comfortable doing so, because then you will be most likely to stick with your plan and benefi t from the increased stamina and conditioning that will result after consistent weeks and months of exercise. Working with your physician, we can coordinate physical therapy with your dialysis. We can design an individual exercise program to maintain your muscle mass and enhance your well-being. You can feel better, physically and psychologically, while undergoing dialysis.