Kidney Disease Patients Can Benefit From Exercise: Study

Exercise can be safe and effective in people with kidney disease, even if they have other related health problems, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, researchers have found. According to the new study, a structured exercise and lifestyle program can improve kidney patients' fitness, body composition and heart health, and this type of regimen can be offered to kidney disease patients with other co-existing medical conditions. The program included 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity exercise and group counseling about behavior and lifestyle changes. A health care team including a kidney specialist, a nurse practitioner, an exercise physiologist, a dietitian, a diabetes nurse and a psychologist were involved in helping the patients keep on track, the researchers explained in a news release from the American Society of Nephrology. A total of 83 patients with chronic kidney disease were randomly assigned to either take part in the program or receive usual care. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_139996.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery