Exercise prescription for children with chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Chronic Kidney Disease in children is one of the most important topics in public health imposing a great burden on the patient’s family and the health organizations. Several parameters including cardiovascular impairment, muscle wasting, anemia, and physical inactivity lead to exercise intolerance in these patients. There is a lot of evidence in favor of the positive effect of regular exercise training in improvement of muscle function, exercise capacity and life quality in the subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Understanding the barriers, motivators and benefits of exercise may aid us to design the CKD-specific behavior change programs to improve their physical activity. To achieve the greatest benefit from exercise in children with CKD, exercise should be prescribed individually for them based on disease condition, physiological and psychological parameters and the patient’s limitations.