Evaluation of the effect of exercise training program on work capacity, functional mobility, and quality of life in hemodialysis patients

Abstract EN

Patients with chronic renal failure are restricted in physical and social dimensions of life because of their treatment and their comorbid medical conditions.

Aim of the work The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exercise training programs on functional work capacity, functional mobility, and quality of life in patients with renal failure on hemodialysis.

Patients and methods Thirty patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis participated in a regular exercise training program three times per week for 12 weeks.

Each exercise session consisted of warm up, cycle or treadmill exercises, stretching exercises, and cool down.

All patients underwent the cardiovascular graded exercise tolerance test, the sit-to-stand-to-sit test, and the 6-min walk test.

Questionnaires were used to assess the quality of life of the study group 1 week before and after the exercise training program.

A total of 15 normal individuals who were age-matched and sex-matched with our patients were used as controls to compare the respiratory function.

Results There was significant improvement in work capacity after the training exercise program compared with that before the program (from 7.24 ± 0.90 to 9.62 ± 1.1; P < 0.001); in addition, there was also a highly significant improvement in functional mobility.

The quality of life was improved after the exercise training program according to four of five scales of 36 questionnaires.

Conclusion A suitable exercise training program is an important method for improvement of work capacity, mobility, psychological status, and quality of life.-