BackgroundHemodialysis is associated with a high symptom burden that impairs health-related quality of life and functional status. Effective symptom management is a priority for individuals receiving hemodialysis. Aerobic exercise may be an effective, nonpharmacologic treatment for specific hemodialysis-related symptoms. This systematic review investigated the effect of aerobic exercise on hemodialysis-related symptoms in adults with kidney failure undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsWe searched MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE, PEDro, and Scopus databases from 1960 or inception until April 15, 2020 for randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of aerobic exercise on hemodialysis-related symptoms, identified as prespecified primary or secondary outcomes, as compared with controls in adults on maintenance hemodialysis. We identified restless legs syndrome as the primary outcome.ResultsOf 3048 studies identified, 15 randomized controlled trials met the eligibility criteria. These studies investigated the effect of aerobic exercise on restless legs syndrome (two studies), sleep disturbance (four studies), anxiety (four studies), depression (nine studies), muscle cramping (one study), and fatigue (one study). Exercise interventions were intradialytic in ten studies and outside of hemodialysis in five studies. Heterogenous interventions and outcomes and moderate to high risk of bias precluded meta-analysis for most symptoms. Aerobic exercise demonstrated improvement in symptoms of restless legs syndrome, muscle cramping, and fatigue, as compared with nonexercise controls. Meta-analysis of depressive symptoms in studies using the Beck Depression Inventory demonstrated a greater reduction in Beck Depression Inventory score with exercise as compared with control (mean difference −7.57; 95% confidence interval, −8.25 to −6.89).ConclusionsOur review suggests that in adults on maintenance hemodialysis, aerobic exercise improves several hemodialysis-related symptoms, including restless legs syndrome, symptoms of depression, muscle cramping, and fatigue. However, the use of validated outcome measures with demonstrated reliability and responsiveness in more diverse hemodialysis populations is required to fully characterize the effect of this intervention.Clinical Trial registry name and registration number:PROSPERO #CRD42017056658

Background Exercise rehabilitation may help maintain physical function in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but long-term clinical effectiveness is unknown. We evaluated the effect of an exercise rehabilitation program on physical function over 1 year in individuals with CKD. Methods This clinical program evaluation included adults with CKD (any stage) registered in a provincial renal program from 1 January 2011 to 31 March 2016. Attenders were referred to and attended a 10-week exercise rehabilitation program (n = 117). Nonattenders were referred, but did not attend the program (n = 133). Individuals enrolled in a longitudinal frailty study (n = 318) composed a second control group. Primary outcome: Change in physical function [short physical performance battery (SPPB) score]. Secondary outcomes included change in health-related quality of life, physical activity, exercise behaviour, hospitalization over 1 year. Predictors of improved SPPB were assessed using logistic regression. Results In sum, 53, 40 and 207 participants completed 1-year follow-up in attender, nonattender and second control groups, respectively. Baseline median SPPB [interquartile range (IQR)] scores were 10.5 (9–12), 10 (8–12) and 9 (7–11) in attender, nonattender and second control groups, respectively (P = 0.02). Mean change in SPPB score over 1 year was not significantly different between groups (P = 0.7). Attenders with baseline SPPB score <12, trended toward increased likelihood of improved SPPB score at 1 year [odds ratio (OR) 2.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95–5.02; P = 0.07]. More attenders (60%) exercised regularly at 1 year than nonattenders (35%) (P = 0.03). Conclusions The impact of clinical exercise rehabilitation programs on physical function at 1 year needs further delineation. However, our observation of improved exercise behaviour at 1 year suggests sustained benefits with such programs in CKD.