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Active at home

Exercises for kidney patients

Physical activity is important and can improve your quality of life. Very short and simple exercises which are carried out on a daily basis or several times per week, already can work wonders and you may feel more vital and balanced.

Though, it is important to adjust sport and daily activity to your age and comorbidities. Please start small and every once in a while increase your workout until you reach our advanced exercises.

Fitness videos

We have prepared exercise videos for light physical activity at home for you. With motion pictures and text instructions you can inform yourself how to strengthen your muscular system.

Please consult your attending physician before carrying out the exercises.

Exercise for the hip flexor and knee extensors

Elderly exercising hip flexor and knee extensors

Exercise for the knee flexor and hip extensors

Elderly man sitting on a chair exercising knee flexor and hip extensors.

Exercise for forearm muscles

Elderly man sitting on a chair exercising forearm muscles

Exercise for calf muscles

Elderly man standing exercising calf muscles

Exercise for lateral neck muscles

Elderly man sitting on a bed exercising lateral neck muscles

Exercise for the back extensors and upper back muscles

Elterly man sitting on a stool exercising back extensors and upper back muscles

Exercise for the calf muscles and tight

Elderly man standing exercising calf muscles and tight

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Be active and feel good

Many people with renal failure say that exercise was the key to helping them feel "normal" again after they started dialysis treatments. The choice of exercise is depend upon how fit you are and what you were able to do before you needed dialysis. If you never ran a marathon before, it is unlikely that you will be able to run one now.

Research^[1] has shown that a regular exercise program, even if it is a limited one, not only can make you fitter, but also can improve your quality of life. Walking, swimming and cycling are all recommended to help keeping you fit. Some people also find yoga classes to be very helpful. There are lots of choices available to you. Look around for local groups you can join, and don’t forget to ask your local Kidney Patients Association.

Before beginning any exercise program, please consult your doctor for approval so that he can determine the "right" kind of exercise for you. The exercise program should meet your special needs and interests.

Practical information

Supporting you in your day-to-day challenges

Food and well-being

Tips for healthy eating.

Quality time, quality of life

Tips for time management

Share for Care magazine

Have a look at our patient Have a look at our patient information magazine.

[1] Huang M, Lv A, Wang J, Xu N, Ma G, Zhai Z, Zhang B, Gao J, Ni C. Exercise Training and Outcomes in Hemodialysis Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Nephrol. 2019;50(4):240-254. doi: 10.1159/000502447. Epub 2019 Aug 27. PMID: 31454822.