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. 2019 Jan 18;32(4):549–566. doi: 10.1007/s40620-018-00565-z

Table 2.

Intradialytic aerobic exercise and quality of life studies

References and country Sample Intervention Outcomes
Design Exercise prescription Variables + Groups % Change (Cohen’s d) p value

Wu et al. [25]

China

I (n = 32); C (n = 33) RCT: I: [QOL-SF36] + 37.7% < 0.05a,b
Age (yrs ± SD) 3 months; 3 times/week I: 5 min warm up + 10–15 min of cycling Intensity: Borg scale set between 12–16 C: [QOL-SF36] + 2.8% NSa
I (45/37–48); C: (44/41–50) 20 min/session C: 10–15 min simple stretching exercises
Gender: Setting: 1 HD unit
I: 84.4% M; C: 84.8% M

De Lima et al. [1]

Brazil

I (n = 10); C (n = 11) RCT: I: cycling I: [KDQOL-SF 1.3—physical functioning] NR < 0.05b
Age (yrs ± SD) 2 months; 3 times/week  Intensity: Borg scale set between 10–12 I: [KDQOL-SF 1.3—pain] NR < 0.05b
I (43.1 ± 13.3); C (43.5 ± 11.1) 20 min/session C: Received routine care I: [KDQOL-SF 1.3—symptoms] NR < 0.04b
Gender: Setting: 1 HD unit I: [KDQOL-SF 1.3—sleeping] NR < 0.006b
I: 50% M; C: 54.5% M I: [KDQOL-SF 1.3—sexual function] NR < 0.01b
I: [KDQOL-SF 1.3—energy/fatigue] NR < 0.02b
C: [KDQOL-SF 1.3] NR < 0.05b

Giannaki et al. [26]

Greece

I (n = 15); C (n = 7) RCT: I: cycling I: [QOL-SF36—MCS] + 15.2% (0.26) NSa, NSb
Age (yrs ± SD) 6 months; 3 times/week  Intensity: 60–65% of patient’s maximal exercise capacity C: [QOL-SF36—MCS] − 4.5% NSa
I (56.4 ± 12.5); C (56.8 ± 16.5) 45–60 min/session C: Received routine care + placebo pills I: [QOL-SF36—PCS] + 17.7% (0.27) 0.003a, NSb
Gender: Setting: 1 HD unit C: [QOL-SF36—PCS] + 9.4% NSa
I: 73.3% M; C: 71.4% M

Dobsak et al. [27]

Czech Republic

I (n = 11); C (n = 10) RCT: I: 5 min warm up + 20–40 min cycling + 5 min cool down I: [QOL-SF36—MCS] + 8.5% (0.03) 0.001a, NRb
Age (yrs ± SD) 4.6 months; 3 times/week  Intensity: 30–60% of patient’s peak workload C: [QOL-SF36—MCS] + 1.7% NSa
I (58.2 ± 7.2); C (60.1 ± 8.1) 30–50 min/session C: Received routine care I: [QOL-SF36—PCS] + 11.1% (0.19) 0.006a, NRb
Gender: Setting: 1 HD unit C: [QOL-SF36—PCS] − 1.5% NSa
I: 36.3% M; C: 66.6% M

Koh et al. [28]

Australia

I (n = 15); C (n = 16) RCT: I: 2 weeks of conditioning: 15 min cycling/session I: [QOL-SF36—MCS] − 3.3% (0.26) NSa, NSb
Age (yrs ± SD) 5 months; 3 times/week  9 weeks: 30 min cycling/session C: [QOL-SF36—MCS] − 3.0% NSa
I (52.3 ± 10.9); C (51.3 ± 14.4) 15 to 45 min/session  9 weeks: 45 min cycling/session I: [QOL-SF36—PCS] − 11.3% (0.35) NSa, NSb
Gender: Setting: 3 HD units  Intensity: Borg scale set between 12–13 C: [QOL-SF36—PCS] No Δ NSa
I: 66.6% M; C: 50% C: Received routine care

Sakkas et al. [29]

Greece

I (n = 7); C (n = 7) 2 Groups intervention: I: 5 min warm up + 45 min cycling + 5 min cool down I: [QOL-SF36—MCS] + 26.6% (0.99) NSa, NRb
Age (yrs ± SD) 3.7 months; 3 times/week  Intensity: 65–75% of patient’s maximum power capacity C: [QOL-SF36—MCS] − 10.1 NSa
I (48 ± 14); C (70 ± 11) 55 min/session C: Received routine care I: [QOL-SF36—PCS] + 23.8% (1.78) 0.01a, NRb
Gender: Setting: 1 HD unit C: [QOL-SF36—PCS] + 14.5% NSa
I: 71.4% M; C: 71.4% M

Parsons et al. [30]

Canada

I (n = 6); C (n = 7) RCT: I: three 15 min exercise bouts of cycling I: [QOL-SF36—physical function] + 1.1% NSa, NRb
Age (yrs ± SD) 2 months; 3 times/week  Intensity: 40–50% of maximal work capacity C: [QOL-SF36—physical function] − 4.2% NSa
I (60 ± 17); C (49 ± 25) 45 min/session C: Received routine care I: [QOL-SF36—role emotional] − 7.7% NSa, NRb
Gender: Setting: 1 HD unit C: [QOL-SF36—role emotional] + 17.6% NSa
I: 50% M; C: 57.1% M I: [QOL-SF36—bodily pain] + 2.1% NSa, NRb
C: [QOL-SF36—bodily pain] + 10.1% NSa
I: [QOL-SF36—general health] − 13.7% NSa, NRb
C: [QOL-SF36—general health] − 13.4% NSa
I: [QOL-SF36—vitality] − 6.9% NSa, NRb
C: [QOL-SF36—vitality] + 1.2% NSa
I: [QOL-SF36—social function] − 2.6% NSa, NRb
C: [QOL-SF36—social function] + 12.4% NSa
I: [QOL-SF36—role physical] + 16.4% NSa, NRb
C: [QOL-SF36—role physical] + 26.7% NSa
I: [QOL-SF36—mental health] + 3.4% NSa, NRb
C: [QOL-SF36—mental health] + 1.0% NSa

Painter et al. [31]

USA

Painter et al. [31]

USA¥

I (n = 166); C (n = 28) 2 Groups intervention: I: strengthening + stretching exercises at home for 2 months followed by intradialytic cycling for 2 months I: [QOL-SF36—MCS] + 4.7% (0.0) NRa, NSb
Age (yrs ± SD) 2 months; 30 min/session C: [QOL-SF36—MCS] − 0.1% NRa
I (55.9 ± 15.15); C (52.8 ± 16.8) Setting: 5 HD units  Intensity: based on the perceived exertion scale to fit their tolerable rate I: [QOL-SF36 -PCS] + 9.1% (0.64) NRa, 0.001b
Gender: C: [QOL-SF36—PCS] − 15.6% NRa
I: 42.9% M; C: 34.6% M C: Received routine care

Chigira et al. [32]

Japan

n = 7 Single group Intervention: 15 min of warm up and stretching + 20 min cycling + 1 min cool down [WHO-QOL26] + 4.1% NS
Age (yrs ± SD) 3 months; 2–3 times/week 40 min/session Intensity: Borg scale set between 11 and 13
Gender: 71.4% M Setting: 1 HD unit

Bae et al. [33]

Korea

n = 10 Single group Intervention: 5 min warm up + 30 min cycling + 2 min cool down I: [QOL-SF36] + 14.7% NS
Age (yrs ± SD) 3 months; 2–3 times/week Intensity: at 35 rpm + Borg scale set between 11 and 13
56.5 ± 4.4 30 min/session
Gender: 40% M Setting: 1 HD unit

Musavian et al. [14]

Iran

n = 16 Single group Intervention: (a) 8 weeks: control period (d) [QOL-SF36] + 20.8% 0.007
Age (yrs ± SD) 4 non-consecutive months (b) 8 weeks: 30 min of passive cycling
51.9 ± 1.57 3 times/week (c) 8 weeks: washout
Gender: 81.2% M 30 min/session (d) 8 weeks: 30 min of active cycling
Setting: 1 HD unit Intensity: not reported

Bohm et al. [34]

Canada

n = 20 Single group Intervention: Cycling intensity: Borg scale set between 12 and 14 [QOL-SF36- PCS] + 11.4%* NS
Age (yrs ± SD) 6 months; 3 times/week [QOL-SF36- MCS] − 2.0%* NS
52 ± 14.5 60 min/session
Gender: 73% M Setting: 4 HD units

Golebiowski et al. [35]

Poland

n = 21 Single group Intervention: Cycling intensity: physical load was individually adapted to exercise tolerance [QOL- SF36v2] Increase NS
Age (yrs ± SD) 3 months; 3 times/week Sub group analysis of patients with the
64.2 ± 13.1 50 ± 19 min/session lowest [physical function] initially: [physical functioning] + 88.8% 0.04
Gender: 51.7% M Setting: 1 HD unit

Besnier et al. [42]

France

n = 6 Single group Intervention Cycling at a speed of 60–70 turns per minute” [QOL-SF36—PCS] + 12.3% NR
Age (yrs ± SD) 3 months; 3 times/week Intensity: Moderate intensity exercise was maintained when patient reaches the value of his first ventilator threshold [QOL-SF36—MCS] − 2.8% NR
72.5 ± 7.8 30 min/session Significance unreported
Gender: 66.6% M Setting: 1 HD unit

Reboredo et al. [13]

Brazil

n = 14 Single group Intervention Pre intervention conditioning: 12 weeks of stretching for 10 min of the lower limbs [QOL-SF36—physical function] + 17.1% < 0.05
Age (yrs ± SD) 3 month; 3 times/wee [QOL-SF36—social functioning] + 15.1% < 0.05
47.6 ± 12.8 30 min/session Intervention: 15 min of stretching and warm up + 30 min of cycling + 15 min cool down and stretching [QOL-SF36—mental health] + 18.1% < 0.05
Gender: 28.6% M Setting: 1 HD unit [QOL-SF36—role physical] + 13.4% NS
Intensity: Borg scale set between 11–13 [QOL-SF36—pain] + 22.2% NS
[QOL-SF36—general health] − 6.4% NS
[QOL-SF36—vitality] + 4.1% NS
[QOL-SF36—role emotional] + 18.0% NS

McMurray et al. [36]

Australia

n = 19 Single group Intervention: Cycling Intensity: based on individual’s capacity to cope with the program [QOL-SF12—MCS] − 12.6% NS
Age (yrs ± SD) 3 months; 3 times/week [QOL-SF12—PCS] − 22.2% NS
67.6 ± 11.2 40 min/session
Gender: 63.6% M Setting: 1 HD unit

Parsons et al. [37]

Canada

n = 13 Single group Intervention: Cycling: two 30 min exercise bouts with a 30 min recovery period between bouts [KDQOL] NR NS
Age (yrs ± SD) 5 months; 3 times/week [QOL-SF36] NR NS
53.0 ± 18.0 60 min/session Intensity: based on patient’s capacity
Gender: 61.5% M Setting: 2 HD units

Order of the studies: randomized controlled studies followed by single group studies, and in descending order of the publication year

p significance, Yrs years, SD standard deviation, M male, RCT randomized controlled trial, Min minutes, HD hemodialysis, I intervention, C control, QOL quality of life, NS non-significant, NR not reported, PCS physical component summary, MCS mental component summary, USA United States of America

Borg scale set between 12–14 is described a “somewhat hard” and is equivalent to a moderate intensity exercise; asignificance for within group comparison with baseline; bsignificance of intervention compared with control group; ¥ this study was a subgroup study so we only reported the results of the mother study; *measurement reported from a figure