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 degrees /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 ( approximately 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).


CONCLUSIONS
Resistance training can be used safely to increase strength and functional capacity in stable hemodialysis patients.
Headley
Samuel
S
Springfield College, Pioneer Valley Dialysis Center, Military Performance Division, US Army Research, Springfield, MA 01109, USA. sheadley@spfldcol.edu
Germain
Michael
M
Mailloux
Patrick
P
Mulhern
Jeffrey
J
Ashworth
Brian
B
Burris
Jami
J
Brewer
Britton
B
Nindl
Bradley C
BC
Nindl
Bradley
B
Coughlin
MaryAnn
M
Welles
Robert
R
Jones
Margaret
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*