Patients undergoing dialysis can now exercise
Published on: Wednesday, November 13, 2019
KOTA KINABALU: Patients undergoing dialysis treatment at Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu Sabah can now enjoy a new form of treatment called dialysis kinesiology for free at its centre.
The treatment is a specialised form of exercise where patients are guided by a kinesiologist or physiotherapist during dialysis.
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Cycling is the most basic form of exercise but there are other specific activities that can help to strengthen major muscles. Patients with kidney failure in general spend 12 hours each week on dialysis. Exercise during dialysis is a very helpful way for them to achieve better quality of life.
This new innovative therapy was pioneered by a Sabahan Specialist, Dr Kenneth Wu (pic), Consultant Physician and Nephrologist at KPJ Sabah to make a difference in Sabah and Malaysia.
Wu recommends low to moderate intensity kinesiology because he passionately believes this can help them achieve better quality of life.
He said patients that exercise during dialysis are less likely to feel lethargic or fall.
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Research has also shown other benefits such as less muscle degeneration, improvement in clearance on dialysis and blood pressure control. Hence, patients are more likely to take fewer medicine.
Wu said that during dialysis treatment, most patients will end up sleeping, sitting and eating for 4 hours. Therefore, instead of sleeping for four hours during dialysis treatment, patients can carry out light exercise to improve their health.
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“Exercising prevent patients from feeling depressed as it helps to lighten their mood and motivate them. With exercise, patients can have better control of their blood pressure and they are less likely to feel depressed and it can boost the patients’ immune systems as exercise can prevent them from getting sick easily and strengthen their leg muscle,” he said.
Most dialysis patients have the notion that they cannot exercise while on dialysis treatment but the truth is most dialysis patients carry out exercise just as long as it does no involve motion that exhaust them. A short exercise everyday will help the patient with chronic kidney disease to feel better, reduced blood pressure, stronger and more in control of their health.
By lifting light weights every other day, it can help increase patients’ blood flow, build muscle density and help them become stronger and gain energy.
In fact, exercising is beneficial during haemodialysis as it helps the body release toxins such as urea more efficiently out from the body system. Besides, dialysis kinesiology can improve the functional capacity of ESRD patients (walking and standing from a seat) and improves the mental aspect of quality of life perceived by dialysis patients.
PHKS Operation Manager, Voo Kui Yu said that one of the patients who have been diligently cycling while on dialysis treatment since May is now working part time.
“The patient after he was diagnosed with kidney failure was always tired and unable to work which led him to quit his job.
“But ever since he went through the kinesiology programme, he has gained back some of his strength and is now able to work part time.
“With exercise, even if it is just light, it will improve the patient’s wellness and not only that, it can motivate the patients,” he said.
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Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu, Sabah hired a physiotherapist to monitor and train patients to do light exercise and stretching.
For patients who is unable to cycle, there are alternative light exercise that the patients can do such as stretching using cando exercise band to strengthen the muscles, cando inflatable exercise balls and some light neoprene dumbbell for hand grip exercise.