Exercise Therapy – Additional Tool for Managing Physical and Psychological Problems on Hemodialysis

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a progressive and untreatable disease which is associated with numerous complex metabolic and hormonal changes leading to a development of conse‐ quent complications which further change function of all organ systems [1]. CRF has several stages. The last one is known as the end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The renal function at this stage has to be replaced by either hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). Such treatment is a life saving method but it does not completely substitute function of healthy kidney [2]. Therefore the best solution for all patients is kidney transplantation. Certain level of physical fitness of all patients on the waiting list for the transplantation is necessary for both successful transplant surgery as well as high quality of life (QoL) with the transplanted kidney. Long-term inactivity prior the kidney transplantation and most importantly during the dialysis treatment leads to diminished physical fitness of dialysis patients who most of‐ ten suffer from muscular atrophy, low capacity of musculoskeletal system, bone and joint diseases, or system nervous malfunctions [3].