| Theme |
Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation for Dialysis Patients |
| Title |
Indications and contraindications for exercise training for maintenance hemodialysis patients |
| Author |
Toshiki Kutsuna |
Rehabilitation Center, Kitasato University Hospital |
| Author |
Takashi Masuda |
Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences |
| [ Summary ] |
Because exercise training is known to be one effective means for improving the overall condition of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD), the study titled, Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative by the National Kidney Foundation states that all HD patients should engage in exercise training. Medical staff members must thoroughly evaluate the physical condition and circumstances associated with comorbidity in HD patients. This must be accomplished to judge whether or not they can safely perform exercises. In addition, it is important to monitor blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiograms and other symptoms during exercise routines to prevent cardiac overload. It has been reported that exercise training can be safely performed by HD patients on non-HD days or during HD sessions, because most of these patients are hemodynamically stable and feel fewer symptoms at those times. Both aerobic and resistance exercises have also been demonstrated to be effective interventions to augment decreased exercise capacity and reduced muscle strength in HD patients. |