Lifestyle Blog
September 01, 2026

Exercise and Dialysis: How to Stay Active Safely | PKD Lifestyle

Having a problem with your kidneys can impact many parts of your life, including your mental and physical health. Exercise and being more active can help you feel better, even when you’re on dialysis.

Can I exercise if I’m on dialysis?

Almost everyone who does dialysis can exercise. The type of exercise you choose depends on what type of dialysis you do, your medical conditions, how active you are now, and what you like to do.

Can I exercise during the dialysis treatment?

You can exercise during hemodialysis treatment (while you’re hooked up to the dialysis machine). Some dialysis units even have exercise programs that you can take part in.

If you do peritoneal dialysis, you can be active while you have the dialysis fluid in your body.

Talk to your healthcare provider before you begin exercising while on dialysis and during your dialysis treatment.

What are the benefits of exercising during your dialysis treatment?

The benefits of exercising during dialysis treatment include:

  • more energy
  • better mood and less stress
  • better removal of urea from the blood during dialysis (called dialysis adequacy)
  • less cramping and discomfort in the legs
  • helping to pass the time
  • a better level of fitness, including strength and stamina (being able to exercise or do an activity longer), and being able to do your daily activities more easily
  • better quality of life

Can I exercise at home or when I’m not on dialysis?

You can exercise at home or do a community exercise class. You can also exercise even if you have trouble walking or can’t walk. Any exercise is good for you, including activities you enjoy that get you moving.

How do I get started with exercise?

To get started on your own:

  • Exercise (such as walking or biking) for 5 to 10 minutes. Do this once a day or a few times throughout the day.
  • Slowly add 1 to 3 minutes (or more if you are able) to your exercise session. You can do this every 1 to 2 weeks as you feel able. Keep adding time to your exercise sessions until you have reached your goal.
  • Begin exercising 2 to 3 days a week on the days you don’t have a dialysis treatment. If you choose to exercise on a day you have dialysis, exercise before your appointment.
  • Work up to 4 to 7 days of exercise a week, but take your time.
  • Start with a light effort and gradually work up to a moderate effort. This means it’s not easy, but it’s not hard. You should be able to say 5 to 8 words without needing to take a breath (called the “talk test”).

What type of exercise should I do?

An exercise specialist can help you choose the best types of exercise. A complete exercise program is made up of 4 types of exercise:

Strengthening exercises use resistance through weights, elastic bands, or your own body weight to make your muscles work harder. These types of exercises make you stronger, improve your balance, and can make your daily activities easier to do.

Cardiovascular exercises (also called aerobic or endurance exercises) use repeated movements of your arms, legs, or both. They include walking, riding a bike, and running. These types of exercises:

  • raise your heart rate
  • get more air into your lungs
  • get more oxygen into your blood
  • give you more stamina (help you exercise longer)

Flexibility exercises target your joints to help you bend, reach, and move more easily. These exercises use slow movements to gently stretch muscles. Flexibility exercises help you maintain a healthy range of motion.

Balance exercises help you keep your balance (stability) throughout the day. These exercises target small muscles to help your body find its position in space. Having good balance is very important to prevent falls.

Try these balance exercises by clicking at the bottom of the page under Movement & Exercise.

What if I’m too tired to exercise?

Exercise can make you feel less tired. On the days you don’t have dialysis, try to exercise earlier, when you’re likely to have the most energy. Remember that even 10 minutes of exercise is good for you.

Talk to your doctor if you feel too tired to exercise or do other things you want to do. They can check your red blood cell count to make sure it isn’t too low. They can also suggest other things to help you feel less tired and be more active.

What can I do to make exercise more enjoyable and easier to do?

Here are ways to make exercise more fun and enjoyable:

  • Choose activities you enjoy.
  • Listen to your favourite music.
  • Exercise with friends and family.
  • Find an exercise group in your area. This is also a great way to meet new people.
  • Walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while you watch TV.

To see your progress, keep a log of every time you exercise, what you did, and how long you exercised.

If I’m on peritoneal dialysis (PD), what can I do?

Here are a few tips if you’re on PD:

  • Following a PD catheter insertion, lift less than 10 lb for the first 4–6 weeks.
  • Most patients can restart gentle aerobic exercise 1–2 weeks after the PD catheter insertion or removal.
    • Start with 5–10 minutes during the first session and build gradually to a goal of 30 minutes of aerobic activity 3–5 days a week.
    • You are encouraged to get up and move around for 5 minutes for every 30 minutes of sitting time.
  • Easy to moderate strength training is encouraged after 6 weeks.
    • Start with an amount of weight that allows for 15 repetitions.
    • Most patients can gradually increase the weight of the items they lift, aiming for “failure” (inability to keep going) at 10 repetitions, as long as they are consistent.
    • Some patients may wish to remove PD fluid from their abdomen.
  • Swimming is possible!
  • Patients should stop exercising if they feel pain or if their PD fluid turns “pinkish,” and talk to their nephrologist or care team immediately.

What are the guidelines for me if I’m on hemodialysis (HD)?

  • Aim for 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity (increased breathing, but able to talk), or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (breathing fast, difficulty talking), or a mixture of both.
  • Exercise can be outside of dialysis (interdialytic) or during dialysis (intradialytic).
  • Break up prolonged periods of being sedentary (e.g., sitting) with light activity when physically possible, or at least by standing.
  • Avoid exercise if you miss dialysis.
  • Strength train on non-dialysis days.
  • Speak to your vascular access (VA) nurse if there are issues with your access.
  • Some physical activity is better than none.

General guidelines for dialysis

1. STRENGTH: BUILD and MAINTAIN muscle!

  • 2–3 times a week of strength training for big muscles
  • 1–3 sets of 10–15 repetitions (rest 1 minute between sets)

2. CARDIO: 30 minutes for fitness most days of the week

  • Helps your heart, lungs, stamina, and circulation

3. STRETCH: Lengthen your tight muscles

  • Reduce joint pain and increase mobility
  • 2 sets of 30 seconds

4. BALANCE: A few minutes a day to prevent falls and improve posture

What do I need to know about moving around if I’m on dialysis?

  • Some dialysis patients need mobility aids to get around safely. This may be due to muscle loss while on dialysis treatment.
  • Exercise both on and off dialysis helps to keep your muscles strong and prevent muscle loss.
  • Cycling during dialysis is still possible, even if you use a mobility aid.
  • If you are unable to bike sitting upright, bed biking (biking while lying in bed while receiving dialysis) may be another option.

Who can I talk to for exercise support?

An exercise specialist, such as a physiotherapist or a kinesiologist, can help you with exercise. They can give you an exercise program that is safe for you based on your needs, interests, and fitness goals.

An exercise specialist can also help you find fitness facilities to try for free (through the Prescription to Get Active program) and leisure programs for people with a low income.

If you have heart problems, talk to your healthcare provider about getting exercise support through a cardiac rehabilitation program.

What else can I do to be more active?

Here are other things you can try to be more active:

  • Park farther away from where you’re going.
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator. You can even climb 1 flight of stairs and take the elevator the rest of the way.
  • Spend less time sitting and take time to stand, walk, or stretch each hour.
  • Walk or ride your bike instead of driving.
  • Get off the bus 1 or 2 stops early and walk the rest of the way.
  • Spend more time doing yard work, gardening, or other daily activities.
  • Carry grocery bags 1 at a time instead of as many as you can carry.
  • Learn more about exercise and fitness.

About the Author

Kathryn Wytsma-Fisher, MKin, CSEP-CEP, is a member of the Kinesiology team with Alberta Kidney Care - South and the Transplant Wellness Program (TWP).

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