End Stage Renal Disease (Esrd)
Renal disease
affects the kidney’s ability to filter out harmful components of metabolism,
such as urea and other waste products.
This may happen because of long-standing diabetes mellitus or acute
injury to the kidney itself. Treatment
options include dialysis of the blood, or transplantation. There are, however, no medical reasons why
renal patients cannot exercise, and research has demonstrated an improvement in
the clearance of urea from tissues with fitness conditioning program.
A major problem with almost all renal
patients is their lowered tolerance for exercise, due to lower levels of
hemoglobin (the molecule that carries oxygen into the cells) and a loss of some
skeletal muscle function. Most of the
recent research studies have used low-level exercise testing and training
programs for renal patients.
Dialysis patients who choose a
strength-training program should exercise at lower intensity, as their ability
to tolerate exercise at high levels is also poor. It is possible for renal patients to increase
their fitness levels, although it is a slow process since renal patients’ peak
heart rate is usually lower than age predicted values (according to ACSM).
A prescription of strength-training
program should incorporate preferably shortness of breath as an indicator of
the patients progress during an exercise session. Personal trainers should insure that members
take in water throughout the exercise session.
It is also recommended that blood pressure be taken before, during and
after exercise session.
Contraindications
for Exercise
Training is not
advised within a day of dialysis treatment or if there are any known
electrolyte abnormalities. Also, if blood pressure is above 150/95-100 mm Hg,
or if they anemic. It must be remembered
that patients suffering from diseases such as this will often by “worn down”
from coping with the disease. Common
sense dictates that training program intensities be kept low.
A sample training program might include
the following exercises:
The personal
trainer should always assume full responsibility for controlling training
intensity and keeping work output within reasonable norms.
Suggested By:
NEERAJ MEHTA, (Fitness
Professional, Nutritionist and Inventor of BMXStrength ® Technique of exercise,
Director of GFFI Fitness Academy)
Tel: +91-9811309667