Exercise
Keeping Active with Kidney Disease
Some dialysis and transplant patients may not know that it is good
for them to get regular physical exercise. It is more than all right,
it is recommended by doctors; however, a patient should always consult
his or her doctor first before beginning any exercise program. Exercise
has many benefits, both physical and emotional. Exercise can improve
blood pressure and muscle strength and can help a person control his
or her weight. Exercising reduces stress and depression. It also
helps people to do things for themselves and feel better about themselves.
Exercise may lessen a person's risk of heart disease.
Here
are some tips on starting an exercise program:
1. Start slow. Start with five minute sessions
the first week you exercise, then add one minute to each session
thereafter. Add more or less time depending on how you feel.
Work toward a session of 30 minutes.
2. Choose an activity or activities that require you to move
large muscle groups continuously, such as walking, swimming,
bicycling, skiing, etc. Pick activities that you enjoy.
3. Exercise at least three times a week but do not exercise
on consecutive days. One schedule may be Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday. Of course, if you feel up to it, you may exercise
more than three days a week.
4. Remember to warm up and cool down to allow your body to
adapt to the increased levels of activity.
5. You should stop exercising if you feel very tired, have
shortness of breath or chest pain, if you feel irregular or
rapid heart beats, feel sick to your stomach, get leg cramps,
or feel dizzy or light headed.
6. You should not exercise if you have a fever, have changed
your dialysis or medication schedule, if your physical condition
has changed, if you have eaten too much, if it is very hot and
humid outside, or if you have joint or bone problems that become
worse with exercise. Always consult your doctor if any of these
situations occur. |
If
weight loss is your goal, studies have shown that people
who keep a food diary (what they’ve eaten and the amount
of calories consumed) lose more weight. |
Kidney Disease and Exercise
Early Stages of Kidney
Disease - Suggested Exercises
| Aerobic Dancing - Low Impact |
Racquet Sports |
Strength Training - light |
| Chair Aerobics |
Running |
Swimming |
| Slow Dancing |
Spinning |
Tai Chi |
Downhill Skiing |
Stair Climbing |
Machine Weight Lifting - heavy |
Elliptical Machine |
Stationary Bike |
Weight Lifting - light |
| Jogging |
Stepping |
Cross Country Skiing |
| Outdoor Cycling |
Strength Training - heavy |
Yoga |
Early Stages of Kidney Disease - Highly
Suggested Exercises
| Stretches |
Walking |
Aerobics |
Late Stages of Kidney Disease
- Suggested Exercises
| Aerobic Dancing - Low Impact |
Stationary Bike |
Weight Lifting - light |
| Slow Dancing |
Strength Training - light |
Yoga |
| Elliptical Machine |
Swimming |
|
| Stair Climbing Machine |
Tai Chi |
|
Late Stages of Kidney Disease - Highly
Suggested Exercises
| Chair Aerobics |
Stretches |
Walking |
| Aerobics |
|
|
|
