How to Ride an Exercise Bike While on Dialysis

Dialysis is a treatment for those with kidney failure. It filters the blood and removes excess fluid. It is a life saving procedure, but however it can lead the patient to feel weak and lethargic. Exercising during treatment is an effective way to counter these side-effects. Exercising during dialysis treatment may seem daunting. However, according to Dan Bayliss, a clinical exercise sychologist with the University of Virginia Renal Services, exercise can be greatly beneficial in managing renal disease. It assists with dialysis by removing more toxins from your blood. Further, exercising will result in increased energy and muscle strength and lower the levels of fats and sugars in the blood. Many dialysis clinics have stationary exercise bikes or exercise that you can use.

Things You'll Need

• Dialysis machine
• Heart rate monitor
• Blood pressure monitor
• Stationary exercise bike
• Running shoes or sneakers

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Instructions

• 1

  Always consult your doctor before starting an exercise regimen.

  Consult your doctor before starting to exercise. He will tell you if it's safe for you and help design a program based on your fitness level. Your doctor may also need to adjust the medications you are taking based on the amount of exercise you'll be doing.

• 2

  Each session you can work a little bit harder, but never push your body to its limits.

  Take it easy. Start riding the bike slowly and then build up to a pace you feel comfortable with. Do not push yourself too hard. Even if you exercised at a high intensity before you started dialysis, it will take your body time to adjust.

• 3

  Your dialysis nurse will assist you in your exercise and check the machine is working, properly.

  Check that the dialysis machine is functioning normally while you exercise. If you are in a clinic, the nurse will supervise this.

• 4

  It's imporant to be able to hold a conversation while exercising. If not, you're working too hard.

  Do the "talk test." During the exercise session, make sure you are always able to talk without difficulty. If you find yourself puffing and unable to speak normally, slow down.

• 5

  Check your vitals at regular intervals.

  Check your vital signs. You or your nurse must check your vital signs every 10 minutes. This includes blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and breathing. Once you have been exercising on dialysis for a while, you can check them less frequently.

• 6

  Exercise no less than 30 minutes and no more than one hour.

  Ride the exercise bike for 30 minutes. This is long enough to benefit both your health and your dialysis treatment. As you become stronger you can increase your sessions to up to one hour.

• 7

  Stretching is vital to prevent injury.

  When you have finished, stretch your arms and legs for at least 10 minutes and then rest.