Exercising regularly is actually advisable for dialysis patients for many reasons. Targeted exercises and individually dosed training can prevent side effects of kidney disease. Sport works almost like a miracle cure: it lowers blood pressure, stimulates metabolism in muscles, cells and tissue, strengthens heart function and prevents artery blockages. This in turn can reduce muscle and bone problems, and eliminate appetite and sleep disorders as well as depressive moods. Sometimes this even makes it possible to avoid certain medications. In addition, studies indicate that sufficient training also increases the effect of dialysis. Joining a sports club brings new contacts and the experience of community. Dialysis patients also find qualified guidance and support in rehabilitation sports groups.
Regular training has other positive “side effects”: the physical stresses of everyday life can be mastered better – at work, when doing housework and gardening, when climbing stairs or shopping. Sports such as swimming, walking, walking, cross-country skiing, hiking, cycling, gymnastics, bowling, dancing and tennis are largely suitable for dialysis patients.
PD puts less strain on the circulatory system
Whether peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemo-dialysis (HD): you should always consult a doctor before starting your fitness program. PD generally puts less strain on the circulatory system of a kidney patient than HD because fluid withdrawal is more continuous. The concentration of toxins in the blood also does not fluctuate as much in PD as in HD. These are good conditions for PD patients to be physically active and sweat a little. With regard to the muscles, sport is even highly recommended. During peritoneal dialysis, not only pollutants are flushed out, but also the small protein building blocks, the amino acids, which are valuable for the muscles. They can be specifically absorbed through protein-rich foods and strengthen and form the muscles in a regularly trained body.
Exercise sensibly
The individual fitness plan should definitely be coordinated with the treating doctor. The program includes training for mobility, coordination, strength and endurance. These components can be promoted to varying degrees depending on the patient’s health status. Warm-up, stretching and relaxation exercises should not be missing alongside muscle and cardiovascular endurance sessions.
Both PD and HD patients are advised not to engage in sports with a high risk of injury – as well as to go well beyond their limits. PD patients should also follow a few rules when exercising: Avoid heavy lifting and pressure on the abdomen in order to protect the peritoneum and catheter. However, some light, specifically selected abdominal and back exercises are highly recommended in view of the abdominal muscles that are stressed during dialysis. When swimming, a waterproof dressing protects the catheter exit site in PD patients.
There are also some guidelines for HD patients: They should avoid sports that can lead to injuries or bleeding in the area of the shunt. A shunt is a vascular access surgically created for blood purification, an artificial connection between vein and artery. Exercise should also be done on dialysis-free days, as the metabolism is then more balanced than immediately before or after HD.
Exercising regularly and achieving something not only increases physical fitness, but also creates self-confidence and a good mood, which is especially important for a chronically ill person. Many dialysis patients find this to be a significant improvement in their quality of life.
Dialysis patients can also enjoy the dance ball
With hemo-dialysis (HD), the patient is usually connected to a dialysis machine three times a week. Blood is withdrawn from the body via a hose system and, after cleaning, is returned to it in an external filter – the “artificial kidney”. The four to six hour treatment usually takes place in dialysis centers, in rare cases at home.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is ideal for treatment in your own home or on the go. The peritoneum, a thin skin measuring around 2 m2 and permeated by a dense network of blood capillaries, serves as a filter. Fresh dialysis solution flows into the abdominal cavity via a permanent catheter. It absorbs pollutants and excess fluid in the peritoneum and, after a few hours of residence, transports them out of the body via the catheter into a collection bag. The patient can carry out the PD themselves.
Further topics on health and medicine