Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Exercise training in chronic kidney disease patients
Erin J Howden1, Robert G Fassett, Nicole M Isbel
1School of Human Movement Studies, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. erin.howden@uqconnect.edu.au
Insights
Exercise training shows promise for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, improving capacity and biomarkers. More research is needed to confirm benefits for kidney function, cardiovascular health, and quality of life in CKD.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Exercise Physiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 1.7 million Australians, often progressing to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
- CKD patients face high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, with limited therapies to slow progression or reduce mortality.
- Exercise training benefits are established in various conditions, including ESKD, but its effects in earlier CKD stages are under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing clinical trials on exercise training in patients with CKD.
- To discuss the findings, safety considerations, and identify future research directions.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search identified ten clinical trials investigating exercise training in CKD patients.
- Review focused on studies examining exercise's impact on physiological and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Exercise training appears to increase exercise capacity, enhance muscle strength and function.
- Studies suggest exercise can decrease blood pressure and improve inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers.
- The majority of trials were small, non-randomized, and non-controlled.
Conclusions:
- Exercise training demonstrates potential benefits for CKD patients, including improved physical function and reduced inflammation.
- The impact of exercise on kidney function, cardiovascular disease progression, and quality of life remains undetermined.
- Further high-quality, randomized controlled trials are essential to establish evidence-based exercise guidelines for individuals with CKD.
Abstract:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem that affects an estimated 1.7 million Australians. Patients with CKD commonly progress to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) requiring dialysis and/or kidney transplantation. They are at high risk of cardiovascular disease and many die from this prior to reaching ESKD. Few therapies are available to slow CKD progression and reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The benefit of exercise training has been well demonstrated in a range of disease conditions including ESKD and was recently highlighted by a systematic review in haemodialysis patients and a recent Cochrane review of all stages of CKD. However, the effects of exercise training in patients with CKD have not been extensively investigated. Our systematic search of the literature found only ten clinical trials in this area. The aim of this review is to review these studies, and to discuss the findings, safety considerations and suggest future areas of research. Overall, the majority of the studies are small, non-randomized, non-controlled trials. They have found that exercise training can increase exercise capacity, improve muscle strength and function, decrease blood pressure, and improve inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers. The effects of exercise training on kidney function, cardiovascular disease and quality of life are unknown. Studies are needed to answer these questions and develop evidence-based exercise training guidelines for individuals with CKD.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
01:24Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
01:25Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction
01:18Chronic Kidney Disease IV: Nursing Management
01:20Acute Kidney Injury V: Interprofessional Care
01:22Acute Kidney Injury VI: Nursing Management