Effect of intradialytic progressive resistance exercise on physical fitness and quality of life in maintenance haemodialysis patients.
Fan Zhang, Liuyan Huang, Weiqiong Wang and 2 others
PMID 33072380WHAT IT FOUND
During haemodialysis, supervised resistance exercise improved walking distance, sit-to-stand speed and grip strength over 12 weeks.
Some kidney-disease quality-of-life scores improved, but overall physical and mental health scores did not.
Key findings
01After the 12-week intervention, the exercise group improved on all three physical fitness tests, while the control group's physical fitness worsened.
02The exercise group's kidney-disease burden and effect scores rose, but its physical and mental component summary scores did not.
03No life-threatening adverse events occurred, and the exercise group reported muscle soreness in 4 patients and cramps in 3 patients.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Single centre in China, so results may not transfer to other dialysis settings. Only 12 weeks of follow-up, so long-term benefit is unknown. The age and time on dialysis range of participants was wide, which may have affected results. Psychological state and self-efficacy were not assessed. Physical fitness was limited to walk test, sit-to-stand and handgrip strength; balance and body composition were not measured. Quality-of-life scores were self-reported and may be subjective. The paper states the outcome assessor was blinded; it does not describe blinding of participants or staff.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Funding is not stated.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that intradialytic exercise reverses muscle atrophy or improves survival. The trial measured 12-week fitness and quality-of-life scores, not muscle mass or mortality outcomes.