Combined Resistance and Aerobic Exercise is Better Than Resistance Training Alone to Improve Functional Performance of Hemodialysis Patients - Results of a Randomized Trial

Universidade Católica de Pelotas

Status

Completed

Conditions

End Stage Renal Disease

Treatments

Behavioral: exercise training

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01076881

UCPelotas01

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a randomized trial with participants recruited from one dialysis unit of a Brazilian university hospital. Hemodialysis patients were assigned to receive the resistance exercise combined with an aerobic training or the resistance training alone for a period of 10 weeks. The functional performance of patients was assessed before and after the intervention through the six-minute walk test (6MWT). The difference over time of the 6MWT was compared between the groups through multivariate linear regression.

Thirteen patients were allocated for each group of intervention. The difference in distance walked before and after intervention in the combined training group was of +39.7 (61.4) meters, and this difference in the resistance training group was of -19.2 (53.9) meters, p=0.01. In multivariate analysis with adjustment for age, skin color, gender, hematocrit, time since starting dialysis, Kt/V and baseline values of 6MWT, the type of training remained significantly associated with the amount of increase in walked distance.

Although the best protocol of exercise for patients on dialysis is not yet clear, in the investigators sample of hemodialysis patients the combination of aerobic and resistance training was more effective to improve functional performance.

Enrollment

26 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

to be on hemodialysis therapy for longer than 3 months
to be already included in the resistance training protocol during dialysis
to receive erythropoietin for the treatment of anemia
hemoglobin level greater than 9.0 g/dL
to be able to maintain sitting and standing balance and ambulatory without assistance.

Exclusion criteria

symptomatic ischemic heart disease
recent myocardial infarction of less than 6 months
uncontrolled hypertension
pericardial or pleural friction rub
aortic stenosis
active musculoskeletal lower-extremity problem, or history of vertebral fracture caused by osteoporosis
patients were also excluded if they participated in formal organized exercise programs outside the dialysis unit.