Move It or Lose It - Intradialytic Exercise as Antidote to Functional Losses in Hemodialysis Patients?

Maintaining independence is the top health-related priority reported by older patients with advanced kidney disease.1 Unfortunately, functional losses such as fatigue, skeletal muscle loss, infection, cognitive decline, and diminished aerobic capacity are very common among patients receiving hemodialysis for chronic kidney failure. Such functional losses are associated with higher mortality2-4 and affect patients' physical activity level and overall quality of life. Indeed, symptom burden and mortality in patients receiving hemodialysis rival those in patients with cancer.5 Nephrology societies, clinicians, and above all patients and families are therefore interested in preserving quality of life and function for patients on dialysis.