Effects of exercise therapy on the amount of sweating in chronic hemodialysis patients

The present study was designed to evaluate the amount of sweating as a result of moderate exercise training on chronic hemodialysis patients. 1. Six hemodialysis patients who were receiving exercise training according to our walking and jogging program, and six other patients who were not taking exercise training were examined. When their increased weight since last dialysis was compared, no significant difference could be recognized, between the two groups nor was there any trace of difference in the amount of increased weight. 2. Four comparatively stable male chronic hemodialysis patients who were undergoing this exercise training program were evaluated. These patients were weighed before and after exercise training to determine the amount of sweating. During exercise training, no significant difference in the amount of sweating was recognized whether it was performed on the day before hemodialysis or immediately after hemodialysis and these two groups showed the same amount of sweating. A positive correlation could be observed between the amount of sweating and the maximal oxygen intake (VO2max) during exercise training. As VO2max increased, so did the amount of sweating. A more positive correlation was also observed between the intensity of exercise and the enegy consumed among patients undegoing intensive exercise. As in the case of healthy subjects, chronic hemodialysis patients can expect to improve their exercise durability, and gain more ability to perspire to an acceptable degree through this exercise training. Furthermore, easier water control upon loss of water can be expected because of sweating.