​If your doctor gave you a pill that could:

• give you more energy
• make you stronger
• make you happier and less depressed
• make you less tired after being active
• give you a better quality of life

...you would probably take it.

Unfortunately, no medicine can do all of this for your health. But regular exercise can!

I’m on dialysis – can I exercise?

Almost everyone on dialysis can exercise. But the type of exercise you can do will depend on your medical conditions, how active you are now, and what you like to do.

Can I exercise during the dialysis treatment?

Yes! You can exercise during dialysis treatment. Several centres in Alberta have exercise programs that you can take part in.

The benefits of exercise during dialysis treatment include:

• better removal of urea from the blood during dialysis (called dialysis adequacy)
• less cramping, pain and discomfort in the legs
• helping pass the time during treatment

As long as you don’t have other health problems, you can exercise at home, with a community exercise class, or at your dialysis unit (if they have a program). If you have heart problems, talk to your healthcare provider about getting exercise through a cardiac rehabilitation program. You can also exercise even if you have trouble walking or can’t walk.

Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program. They may suggest you see an exercise specialist (a physiotherapist or a kinesiologist) to get you started on an exercise program. An exercise specialist can also help find the types of exercise that are best for you.

What type of exercise should I do?

Any exercise is good for you! But a complete exercise program is made up of 3 types of exercise – strengthening, cardiovascular and flexibility exercises. An exercise specialist can help you choose the best types of exercise for you.

Strengthening exercises use resistance through weights, elastic bands, or your own body weight to make your muscles work harder. Strengthening exercises make your muscles stronger.

Cardiovascular exercises (also called aerobic or endurance exercises) raise your heart rate, get more air into your lungs and more oxygen into your blood. These exercises use repeated movements of your arms, legs, or both such as walking, riding a bike or running. Cardiovascular exercises help you to be active for longer periods without getting tired.

Flexibility exercises target your joints to help you to bend, reach, and move more easily. These exercises use slow movements to gently stretch muscles. Many people with arthritis may already do flexibility exercises.

What if I’m too tired to exercise?

You may be surprised to learn that exercise can make you feel less tired! On the days you don’t have dialysis, try to work out early in the day when you’re likely to have the most energy. You can also ask your healthcare team if they have exercise programs you can do while you’re getting dialysis treatment.

Talk to your doctor if feeling too tired is preventing you from exercising or doing other things you want to do. They can check your red blood cell count to make sure it isn’t too low. They can also suggest other things to do or try that may help you to feel less tired and be more active.

What I if I think exercise is boring or I never see progress?

• Make exercise fun! Listen to music you love when you exercise.
• Exercise with a buddy or ask your healthcare team if anyone is looking for an exercise buddy at the dialysis unit.
• Find an exercise group in your area. It’s also a great way to meet new people.
• Find ways to reward yourself for exercising.
• Keep exercise interesting. Try new exercises or classes, like​ yoga or tai chi, until you find what you like.
• Keep a log and write down every time you exercise, what you did and how long you exercised. This is a good way to see your progress.
• Ask for a referral to an exercise specialist who can help you find new exercises for you to try.

What else can I do to be more active?

Exercise isn’t the only way to be more active. You can also:

• park farther away from where you’re going
• take the stairs instead of the elevator (even if you take just take one flight of stairs and the elevator the rest of the way)
• spend less time watching TV or do something active while you watch TV – Walk on a treadmill, stretch or fold laundry while watching your favourite shows!
• get up and walk around every hour or go for a walk around the block
• ride your bike, rollerblade, or walk to where you’re going
• get off the bus 1 or 2 stops early and walk the rest of the way
• spend more time doing yard work or gardening
• carry grocery bags one at a time instead of carrying them all at once
• take stretch breaks or go for a walk during a break at work, if you can