Dialysis is a vital treatment that helps your body do the work your kidneys can no longer manage, but it can also leave you feeling tired and less motivated to move. While rest is important, staying active plays a crucial role in improving your energy, maintaining muscle strength, and enhancing your overall quality of life. The good news is that you don’t need to push yourself with strenuous workouts. In fact, simple, safe exercises during and between dialysis sessions can make a meaningful difference. With the right approach and guidance from your care team, physical activity can become a supportive part of your dialysis journey.
In This Blog:
- Why Staying Active Matters During Dialysis
- Safe Exercises to Try During Dialysis
- Staying Active Between Dialysis Sessions
- Tips for Exercising Safely
- Overcoming Common Barriers
- Encouragement and Resources
Why Staying Active Matters During Dialysis
Dialysis treatments can be demanding on your body, and many patients experience fatigue, muscle weakness, or low energy as a result. While it may feel easier to rest, staying active actually helps combat many of these challenges. Physical activity improves circulation, supports heart health, and can help dialysis work more effectively by promoting better blood flow. It also strengthens muscles and joints, reducing the risk of injury or stiffness from long hours of sitting.
Beyond the physical benefits, exercise has a powerful impact on emotional well-being. Regular movement can ease stress, reduce symptoms of depression, and improve sleep, all of which are common concerns for dialysis patients. Even small amounts of activity can boost your confidence and provide a sense of control over your health, helping you feel stronger both mentally and physically.
Safe Exercises to Try During Dialysis
You don’t even need to leave your dialysis chair to get moving. Here are some simple options you can try from the comfort of a chair:
- Leg lifts and ankle circles: Help improve circulation and reduce stiffness in your lower body.
- Arm raises or bicep curls: Can be done with light weights or resistance bands to maintain strength.
- Seated marching: Lifting your knees one at a time to keep your core and legs engaged.
- Stretching and deep breathing: Reduces muscle tension, supports relaxation, and promotes better oxygen flow.
These movements are designed to be low-impact and easy to adjust to your comfort level. Over time, small steps like these can lead to better strength, balance, and overall dialysis tolerance.
Staying Active Between Dialysis Sessions
Your activity doesn’t have to stop once you leave the clinic. In fact, finding gentle ways to stay active at home or in your community can help you feel stronger and more energized throughout the week. The key is to choose activities that are safe, enjoyable, and easy to fit into your daily life.
- Walking: Even short, regular walks around your home, yard, or neighborhood can boost stamina and heart health.
- Light yoga or stretching: Improves flexibility, reduces stiffness, and supports relaxation.
- Stationary cycling: A low-impact option that builds endurance without putting stress on your joints.
- Household activities: Light chores such as cooking, tidying, or gardening count as movement and help you stay active.
It’s best to set realistic goals, such as 10–15 minutes of movement at a time, and gradually build up as your energy allows. Always listen to your body, rest when needed, and remember that consistency matters more than intensity.
Tips for Exercising Safely
Because dialysis can affect your body in unique ways, safety should always come first. A few important guidelines can help you move with confidence:
- Consult your care team first: Ask your Bergen nephrologist or dialysis staff before starting any new activity. They can suggest what’s safe based on your health and treatment plan.
- Protect your access site: Avoid heavy lifting or exercises that put strain on your fistula or catheter arm.
- Stay within fluid limits: Exercise can make you thirsty, so be mindful of your recommended fluid intake.
- Choose supportive clothing and shoes: Loose, breathable clothes and sturdy footwear help prevent discomfort or injury.
- Start slow and build gradually: Gentle, short sessions are safer than pushing too hard all at once.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can enjoy the benefits of exercise without putting your health at risk.
Overcoming Common Barriers
It’s normal to face challenges when trying to stay active during dialysis, but with small adjustments, you can make exercise a sustainable part of your routine.
- Fatigue: Dialysis can leave you feeling drained, but short, gentle sessions of 5–10 minutes can be easier to manage than longer workouts. Even stretching or slow walking counts.
- Low motivation: Having an “exercise buddy” can help keep you accountable and make activity more enjoyable.
- Time constraints: If your schedule feels packed, try “movement snacks” throughout the day, such as standing and stretching during TV breaks or taking a quick walk after meals.
- Limited space: You don’t need a gym to exercise. Chair exercises, resistance bands, or yoga stretches can be done right at home or in your dialysis chair.
By tackling these barriers with practical solutions, staying active becomes less overwhelming and more achievable.
Encouragement and Resources
Every step counts when it comes to supporting your health on dialysis. Even small amounts of activity, like a few stretches or a brief walk, can make a noticeable difference in how you feel. The most important thing is consistency and finding activities you genuinely enjoy.
Resources that may help include:
- Exercise programs for kidney patients: Some dialysis centers offer supervised exercise sessions.
- Patient education handouts: Your care team may provide guides with safe exercise suggestions.
- Online videos: There are many free, low-impact exercise routines tailored for people with limited mobility.
- Support groups: Talking with other dialysis patients who have incorporated activity into their lives can provide both motivation and reassurance.
Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and keep building on your success at your own pace.
Conclusion
Staying active during dialysis may seem challenging, but even small amounts of movement can make a big difference in your health, energy, and outlook. Gentle exercises during your treatments and light activities at home can improve circulation, reduce fatigue, and strengthen your body, helping you feel more in control of your wellness. With the right guidance and a personalized plan, activity can become a safe and empowering part of your dialysis journey.
At Nephrology Associates of Northern Illinois and Indiana (NANI), we’re here to support your kidney health every step of the way. Our experienced nephrologists provide individualized care and guidance to help you live well with dialysis. With clinics across Illinois, Indiana, and even a location in Bergen, New Jersey, NANI makes it easier to access expert kidney care close to home.
Take the next step toward better kidney health today—schedule an appointment with NANI and let us help you stay strong, active, and supported.
