Three-month endurance training improves functional fitness and knee muscle performance of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD)

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have poor physical performance and reduced exercise capacity due to frequent haemodialysis treatments. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a three-month endurance training programme in patients with ESRD. METHODS: In order to improve both functional fitness and skeletal muscle properties, movement therapy-cycle ergometer, was applied in eligible ESRD patients during dialysis. The study included 40 dialysis patients, but only 27 patients completed the full three-month training during each haemodialysis treatment. Before and after training, all patients underwent observations according to the established protocol: functional capacity Six-Min Walk Test, agility Timed Up and Go test, and muscle strength testing under isokinetic conditions at 60, 180 and 300 degrees/s. RESULTS: Patients covered significantly longer distances in the 6MWT with a higher gait intensity after the 3 months training programme: the 6MWT increased from 360.8 to 390.2 m and metabolic equivalent from 2.74 to 2.85. The TUG significantly decreased in both women and men: from 9.07 to 7.51 s, and from 9.64 s to 7.4 s, respectively. The knee extension peak moment at 60 and 180 degrees/s was significantly higher in women than in men following training. In addition, the women demonstrated more significant changes in flexor muscles at all angular velocities. CONCLUSIONS: Three-month endurance training was effective in patients with ESRD in improving both functional fitness and skeletal muscle properties.