Exercise in end-stage renal disease.

Available studies indicate that exercise tolerance in renal patients is low. Although significant improvements in maximal oxygen consumption have been reported following exercise training in these patients, there may be physiologic limitations to the attainable levels of aerobic capacity due to the multisystemic nature of the disease. Long-term exercise training may result in other medical benefits. Compliance to regular exercise in hemodialysis patients remains a problem, however, exercise training during the dialysis treatment may prove beneficial in terms of compliance and supervision.