Correlation between intradialytic aerobic exercise, associated or not with neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and the quality of hemodialysis in patients with chronic kidney disease

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Adrieny do Nascimento Borges
Hellen Pedracini Gottardo
Marcela Cangussu Barbalho-Moulim
Flávia Marini Paro
Veronica Lourenço Wittmer Pascoal
Halina Duarte
Daniella Cristina de Assis Pinto Gomes

Abstract

Introduction: Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) on hemodialysis (HD) have impaired functional capacity. Therefore, to alleviate these complications, intradialytic exercises have been implemented. Objective: To evaluate the correlation between intradialytic aerobic exercise, associated or not with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and the quality of HD. Methods: Randomized clinical trial that submitted individuals with CKD to an intradialytic exercise using a cycle ergometer in the lower limb and active upper limb NMES in the intervention group (IG) or placebo in the control group (CG). The outcomes evaluated were Kt/V index (an index that evaluates the adequacy of HD), number of cycles cycled, distance covered, and heart rate (HR). The groups were compared, and correlation was made between Kt/V and variables: cycles cycled, distance covered, delta HRF-I (difference between final HR and initial HR of the intervention), delta HRcycle (difference between final HR and initial HR of the cycle ergometer), and HRpeak (highest HR value during the cycle ergometer). Results: Five participants were included in the IG and 4 in the CG. During exercise, there was an increase in HR in IG and a reduction in systolic blood pressure in the CG. Furthermore, the CG performed a greater number of pedaling cycles and a greater distance covered (p<0.05). Furthermore, delta HRF-I and HRpeak were higher in the IG. There was a weak positive correlation in the IG (r=0.21; p=0.03) between delta HRcycle and Kt/V. Conclusion: Intradialytic aerobic exercise associated with NMES had a weak positive correlation between Kt/V and delta HRcycle.

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Borges, A. do N., Gottardo, H. P., Barbalho-Moulim, M. C., Paro, F. M., Pascoal, V. L. W., Duarte, H., & Gomes, D. C. de A. P. (2026). Correlation between intradialytic aerobic exercise, associated or not with neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and the quality of hemodialysis in patients with chronic kidney disease. ABCS Health Sciences. https://doi.org/10.7322/abcshs.2024235.2971
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Original Articles

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