Exercise Interventions in Chronic Kidney Disease Management
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects millions worldwide and is characterised by progressive loss of renal function, metabolic disturbances and high cardiovascular risk. Exercise interventions have emerged as a non-pharmacological cornerstone to mitigate muscle wasting, cardiovascular deconditioning and impaired quality of life in this population. Supervised aerobic and resistance training can enhance cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and physical function, while intradialytic exercise performed during haemodialysis sessions offers the added benefits of improving dialysis efficiency and reducing systemic inflammation. Digital health platforms and remote coaching have further widened access to tailored exercise regimens, addressing barriers such as limited mobility and geographic isolation. Integrating structured physical activity into standard CKD care pathways has demonstrated potential to slow functional decline, ameliorate comorbidities and empower patients to self-manage their condition.
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Exercise Interventions in Chronic Kidney Disease Management publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in exercise interventions in chronic kidney disease management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Intradialytic exercise: Physical activity performed during haemodialysis sessions to improve cardiovascular and muscular outcomes.
Myopenic obesity: A clinical condition characterised by simultaneous low muscle mass and high fat mass often seen in patients with end-stage kidney disease.
Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy: A technique that measures body composition by passing a small electrical current through tissues to estimate lean and fat tissue indices.
Digital health intervention: The use of digital technologies, such as apps and online platforms, to deliver and monitor exercise programmes remotely.
Health-related quality of life: A multidimensional concept encompassing physical, mental and social well-being as subjectively reported by patients.
References
- Evaluating the effect of a digital health intervention to enhance physical activity in people with chronic kidney disease (Kidney BEAM): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial in the UK. The Lancet Digital Health (2023).
- Digital Physical Activity and Exercise Interventions for People Living with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review of Health Outcomes and Feasibility. Journal of Medical Systems (2024).
- Body Composition and Intradialytic Exercise in Kidney Disease: A Combined Analysis of the PEDAL and CYCLE‐HD Randomised Controlled Trials. Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle (2025).
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