In the United States, 26 million adults are living with chronic kidney disease, and many others have a high risk of developing it. For most people regular exercise can safely reduce the risk of developing conditions that cause kidney disease, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Exercise can even benefit those who are already experiencing compromised kidney function.
How Kidneys Function
The kidneys filter the body's blood, extracting toxins and chemicals that the body won't use and expelling these waste products as urine. They reabsorb substances the body can use, such as water and amino acids. The kidneys also keep levels of sodium, potassium and other ions in the blood balanced, secrete hormones that help regulate blood pressure and calcium levels, and maintain a pH balance in the blood.
Benefits
Whether you simply wish to maintain the health of your kidneys, or you have been diagnosed with kidney disease and want a way to improve your general health, incorporating exercise into your weekly routine is a good idea. According to the National Kidney Foundation, "Exercise helps kidney disease by improving muscle function, lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, keeping a healthy body weight and improving your sleep." Exercise will also help to keep healthy kidneys working properly. In addition, because obesity and diabetes are linked to kidney problems, exercise can stave off or reduce the impact of these conditions on the kidneys.
Supporting Data
A recent Brazilian study concluded that aquatic exercise had the potential to improve kidney function by improving blood circulation and increasing the rate at which blood is filtered through the kidneys, according to the Journal of Exercise Physiology Online. A 2006 study reported in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that even dialysis patients who engaged in low intensity exercises are better able to remove urea --- the main component of urine that is filtered from the blood by the kidneys --- than those who did not exercise.
Recommendations
To improve your health and kidney function, engage in aerobic exercise such as biking, swimming or walking, and incorporate weight training or the use of resistance bands, to build muscles. If you are not used to regular workouts, the National Kidney Foundation cautions that you should start slowly, working up to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, three times per week.
Caution
Consult with your doctor before starting an exercise program to ensure that the activities are healthful and right for your current medical condition.
References
- National Kidney Foundation: How Your Kidneys Work
- "Journal of Exercise Physiology Online"; Aquatic and Land Exercise Training Affects Renal Function; Tainá Fabri, et al; April 2010
- "Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation"; Exercise Training During Hemodialysis Improves Dialysis Efficacy and Physical Performance; Trisha L. Parsons, et al.; May 2006
- Comprehensive Kidney Facts: Yes-You Should Exercise to Help Kidney Disease
