The present study investigated the sustained effect of exercise therapy discontinuation in patients under hemodialysis with low physical function. Seven subjects in the exercise group and eight in the control group who had low physical function (short physical performance battery; SPPB ≤ 9 points) were included in the study. The exercise group received 6 months of intradialytic exercise, followed by 6 months of observation. We assessed SPPB, grip strength, self-efficacy (SE), and exercise habits in both the groups before and after 12 months. There were statistically significant improvements in SPPB (effect size, 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13-3.55) and SE (effect size, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.25-7.57) in the exercise group relative to the control group. The exercise group displayed more exercise habits than the control group at 12 months. A 6-month period of intradialytic exercise may contribute to the continuation of SPPB and SE after exercise discontinuation.
Keywords: exercise therapy; hemodialysis; physical function; self-efficacy.
© 2020 International Society for Apheresis, Japanese Society for Apheresis, and Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy.