BY Dr Tang Yinqian, China Medical Team in NRH of Solomon Islands
PATIENTS with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often need plenty of rest, but that doesn’t mean they should stay in bed all the time. In fact, regular and moderate exercise can aid in their recovery. Clinically, moderate exercise can help excrete metabolites like urea and creatinine, elevate the glomerular filtration rate, and slow the progression of CKD.
When it comes to exercise, many people think it must be difficult or complex. However, it can be simple and easy. Walking, considered the best exercise by the World Health Organization, is perfect for your health whether you’re hiking or just jogging.
Benefits of Walking
- Improves Circulation: A brisk walk improves blood circulation and elevates the metabolic rate, helping to quickly excrete toxins from the blood.
- Strengthens Blood Vessels: Regular walking enhances the elasticity of blood vessels, reducing the risk of rupture and preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It also raises the heart rate and improves cardio-pulmonary function, effectively reducing bad cholesterol.
- Aids Weight Loss: As an aerobic exercise, walking helps burn fat and calories, promoting weight loss and fitness.
- Boosts Brain Function and Immunity: Walking maintains brain cell activity and improves immunity. A study in “Arthritis and Rheumatism” shows that walking is gentler on the knees compared to running and helps strengthen muscles and joint function.
- Prevents Osteoporosis and Cancer: Walking maintains lower extremity function and helps prevent osteoporosis. Research also suggests it reduces the risk of certain cancers.
Exercise Guidelines for CKD Patients
- Weak or Inexperienced: Begin with short, slow walks of 5-10 minutes, 3-4 times a day at home. After that, gradually increase the duration and speed as your strength improves. For example, After the body adapts, you can go for a walk outdoors, walking for 10-15 minutes in the morning and evening and gradually increase the distance of walk each time and increase the speed of walk.
- Beginners: Start with 20-30 minutes of walking, 3000 to 3500 steps per day, gradually increasing from 2 days a week to 3-5 days.
- Intermediate: Increase to 4000 steps per day, exercising 3-5 days a week for 30-60 minutes.
- Experienced: Aim for 5400 to 7900 steps a day, totaling 150 minutes a week.
- Intensity: A reasonable exercise intensity for patients is that while walking, they are sweating slightly and can speak normally, their heart rate and breathing are increasing slightly, a little tired but not exhausted and no muscle aches and other discomfort the next day.
Tips for Safe Exercise
- Exercise when free of infections, severe edema, or acute disease attacks like gross hematuria, severe uncontrolled hypertension, severe heart failure, arrhythmia, or angina.
- Start exercising only when you feel well. It’s never too late to begin once you’re adjusted.
Remember, walking is a low-to-medium intensity aerobic exercise, safe and suitable for most CKD patients who are just starting out.
Stay tuned for more kidney health care tips.
（Translated by HUANG BAILIN, International Office, Guizhou Medical University）
