title: Evaluation of Exercise Tolerance in Dialysis Patients Performing Tai Chi Training: Preliminary Study.
abstract: Introduction. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have poor physical performance and exercise capacity due to frequent dialysis treatments. Tai Chi exercises can be very useful in the area of rehabilitation of people with ESRD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess exercise capacity in ESRD patients participating in 6-month Tai Chi training. Patients and Methods. Twenty dialysis patients from Wroclaw took part in the training; at the end of the project, 14 patients remained (age 69.2 ± 8.6 years). A 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and spiroergometry were performed at the beginning and after 6 months of training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 6 months of Tai Chi, significant improvements were recorded in mean distance in the 6MWT (387.89 versus 436.36 m), rate of perceived exertion (7.4 versus 4.7), and spiroergometry (8.71 versus 10.08 min). Conclusions. In the ESRD patients taking part in Tai Chi training, a definite improvement in exercise tolerance was recorded after the 6-month training. Tai Chi exercises conducted on days without dialysis can be an effective and interesting form of rehabilitation for patients, offering them a chance for a better quality of life and fewer falls and hospitalisations that are the result of it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Physical Education, Paderewskiego 35 Street, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Wioletta
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3511-7623
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dziubek
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Physical Education, Paderewskiego 35 Street, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bulińska
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213 Street, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusztal
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Physical Education, Paderewskiego 35 Street, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowalska
authors.affiliation: Non-Public Medical College of Wroclaw, Nowowiejska 69 Street, 50-340 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Rogowski
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, Licealna 9 Street, 65-417 Zielona Gora, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zembroń-Łacny
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213 Street, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gołębiowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, University of Physical Education, Paderewskiego 35 Street, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ochmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Physical Education, Paderewskiego 35 Street, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Weronika
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pawlaczyk
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213 Street, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4830-5340
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Physical Education, Paderewskiego 35 Street, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woźniewski