Home Exercise Guidelines When You Have Kidney Disease

Regular exercise is important for people with chronic kidney disease. It can help improve many of the health issues that come with chronic kidney disease. Please talk with your doctor to ensure exercise is safe for you before starting.

Types of exercise

There are different types of exercise. They all have health benefits:

• Resistance training makes your muscles stronger and helps prevent joint pain. You repeat movements with weights or resistance tubing.
• Aerobic exercise makes your heart and lungs stronger. It includes activities like biking, walking, and swimming.
• Flexibility exercises prevent stiffness and help you move more easily.
• Balance exercises help lower your risk of falls.

Before you start your exercise session

For your safety, it is a good idea to have someone around while you exercise. If this is not possible, keep your phone close to you while you exercise in case you need help.

It's important to check your blood pressure and heart rate before starting to exercise. Your healthcare team can help you find and understand this information. Before you start exercising, you should have:

• resting blood pressure that is higher than 90/40 but lower than 180/100
• resting heart rate between 50 to 100 beats per minute
• stable blood work (for example, your healthcare team is not concerned about your hemoglobin or potassium)

Do not start exercising if you:

• have been admitted to the hospital in the last week
• have cold or flu-like symptoms
• have symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, or abnormal shortness of breath

If you have diabetes, you need to check your blood sugar before and after you exercise. It is a good idea to have a light snack nearby in case you need it when you exercise. Your blood sugar should be between 5.5 to 16.5 mmol/L. This is important if:

• you are just starting to exercise for the first time, or for the first time in a while
• you have had symptoms of low blood sugar such as light-headedness, dizziness, or shakiness
• you have had a recent change to your diabetes medicines (like changing the type of insulin)

After a hospital stay, it is a good idea to follow up with your doctor, kinesiologist, or exercise therapist to make sure that you can safely return to your previous exercise routine.

During your exercise

• If you have muscle, joint, or injury-related pain, you may be able to start with light exercise. If your pain stays the same or improves, it's safe to continue. If it gets worse, try to make your movements smaller, switch activities, or take a day to rest.
• If you feel unsteady or like you’re going to fall, stop exercising or consider finishing your exercises while sitting down.
• Balance exercises are highly recommended for anyone who feels unsteady. Visit Finding Balance Alberta to find balance exercises.
• If you are doing balance exercises at home, do these near supports such as a wall, countertop, or kitchen table. Have a phone nearby so that you can call for help in case you lose your balance.

If you are on dialysis

• If you have skipped dialysis, you should not exercise until you have caught back up on your regular dialysis treatment. Use the “Before you start your exercise session” guidelines above to make sure you can safely return to your previous exercise routine.
• Avoid exercising immediately after dialysis. Try to do home exercise on non-dialysis days, or exercise earlier on your dialysis day if you feel well. Biking or strength exercise during dialysis sessions may also be an option at your community clinic.
• If you have been advised to limit your fluid intake but are thirsty or have a dry mouth during exercise, sucking on ice chips or a “water popsicle” can help.

Speak to your kinesiologist or exercise therapist if you have any questions.

To see this information online and learn more, visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca/health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=custom.ab_home_exercise_kidney_disease_inst.

For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information call Health Link at 811.

Current as of: May 14, 2026

Author: Alberta Kidney Care

This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.