Abstract: Objective To study the effect and safety of treadmill exercise in uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Methods A total of 69 MHD patients consistent with the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into control group (n=35) and test group (n=34). They were used the same dialysis protocol.Patients in the test group underwent recumbent bicycling exercise, while those in the control group only performed simple stretching exercise. Exercise capacity and cardiac function were evaluated before the exercise and after the exercise for 12 weeks. Changes of exercise capacity and cardiac function and safety of the
exercise were compared between the two groups. Result There were no significant differences in exercise capacity and cardiac function at the baseline between the two groups. After the exercise therapy for 12 weeks, exercise capacity in the test group improved more than that in the control group (P< 0.05), and cardiac function including left ventricular mass, left ventricular mass index and cardiothoracic ratio also improved in the test group but without statistical significance as compared with those in the control group (P＞0.05). Other parameters changed insignificantly. No adverse reactions relating to exercise were found. Conclusions Individualized exercise therapy significantly improved exercise capacity in a short period of time in MHD patients. It is safe and is valuable to be used widely. However, it had little effect on cardiac function. Further studies are needed to evaluate its effect.

Key words: exercise, maintenance hemodialysis, exercise capacity, cardiac function, safety