Resistance training improves strength and functional measures in patients with end-stage renal disease

Background: The current study was designed to examine the effect of 12 weeks of resistance training on strength and functional ability in 10 medically stable hemodialysis patients (age, 42.8 ± 4.4 years). Methods: Subjects were tested on four separate occasions, each separated by 6 weeks. The first (T1) and second tests (T2) were controls with no exercise intervention between them. T3 followed 6 weeks of resistance training, and T4 occurred after 12 weeks of training. Variables tested included percentage of body fat, distance covered in the 6-minute walk test, peak torque of quadriceps muscles of the dominant leg, maximal handgrip strength, normal and maximal walking speeds, and time to complete 10 repetitions of the sit-to-stand-to-sit test. Data were analyzed by means of a one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance procedure. Results: Results indicate that after 12 weeks of training, there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase (12.7%) in peak torque at 90°/s (139.1 ± 19.3 nm) compared with T1 and T2 (mean, 124.1 ± 18.7 [SEM]; 123.5 ± 16.9 Nm), respectively. The distance covered during the 6-minute walk was increased (~5%; P < 0.05) compared with baseline (T1, 522.1 ± 46.2 m; 521.9 ± 48.5 m) after 6 weeks of training (548.3 ± 52.1 m) and remained elevated at week 12 (546.5 ± 54.2 m). Maximal walking speed was increased (P < 0.05) by week 12 (195.9 ± 15.4 cm/s) compared with baseline (T1, 182.9 ± 12.7; 185.5 ± 13.0 cm/s). Time to complete 10 repetitions of the sit-to-stand-to-sit test decreased at 12 weeks (17.8 ± 1.9 seconds) versus baseline (T1, 20.3 ± 1.5 seconds; T2, 20.6 ± 5.5 seconds). Conclusion: Resistance training can be used safely to increase strength and functional capacity in stable hemodialysis patients. © 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.